Soy boy is apejorative term sometimes used in online communities to describe men perceived to be lackingmasculine characteristics. The term bears many similarities and has been compared to the slang termscuck (derived fromcuckold),nu-male andlow-T ("low testosterone") – terms sometimes used as insults formale femininity in themanosphere.[1][2][3]
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Soy products contain high amounts ofphytoestrogens.[6][7] As they are structurally similar toestradiol (the majorfemale sex hormone) and have activity at the estrogen receptor,[8] early research suggested that it may act as anendocrine disruptor that adversely affects health.[9][10] An article written in the 1970s claimed that soy could disrupt hormone balance which initially started the bad reputation.[11][unreliable source?] Since then, concerns have been raised that it may act as anendocrine disruptor that adversely affects health.[7] The Harvard School of Health, however, notes that "there are many factors that make it difficult to construct blanket statements about the health effects of soy";[12] in the late 2010s and early 2020s a sizeable amount of research and scientific reviews further debunked claims.[11]
It is unclear if phytoestrogens have any effect on male physiology, with conflicting results about the potential effects ofisoflavones (a kind of phytoestrogen) originating from soy.[13] Some studies showed that isoflavone supplementation had a positive effect on sperm concentration, count, ormotility, and increased ejaculate volume.[14][15] Furthermore, while there is some evidence that phytoestrogens may affect male fertility, more recent reviews of available studies found no link,[16][17] and instead suggests that healthier diets such as theMediterranean diet might have a positive effect on male fertility.[17] Several review studies have not found any effect of phytoestrogens on sperm quality[18] or reproductive hormone levels.[19][20] Neither isoflavones nor soy have been shown to affect male reproductive hormones in healthy individuals.[16][21]
Soy is rich in nutrients and likely to provide health benefits, especially when it replaces red or processed meat.[22] Avoidance of red and processed meat was found to lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction.[23][24] Higher soy intake is also associated with lower risk for prostate cancer.[25][26] Studies show thatplant-based diets do not compromise muscular strength.[27]
The term is often used as an epithet byinternet trolls. It often targets perceivedvegans,[28][29]progressives, and other groups. The term has also been used in online debates about the fashion appeal ofcargo shorts,[30] having a feminized and unathletic look, and an exaggerated smile called a "soy face" or "Soylent grin",[31][32] a reference to ameal replacement shake (itself named as a reference to the 1973 dystopian filmSoylent Green).
^George G. J. M. Kuiper; Josephine G. Lemmen; Bo Carlsson; J. Christopher Corton; Stephen H. Safe; Paul T. van der Saag; Bart van der Burg; Jan-Åke Gustafsson (1 October 1998). "Interaction of Estrogenic Chemicals and Phytoestrogens with Estrogen Receptor β".Endocrinology.139 (10):4252–4263.doi:10.1210/endo.139.10.6216.PMID9751507.
^George G. J. M. Kuiper; Josephine G. Lemmen; Bo Carlsson; J. Christopher Corton; Stephen H. Safe; Paul T. van der Saag; Bart van der Burg; Jan-Åke Gustafsson (1 October 1998). "Interaction of Estrogenic Chemicals and Phytoestrogens with Estrogen Receptor β".Endocrinology.139 (10):4252–4263.doi:10.1210/endo.139.10.6216.PMID9751507.
