I think you may have a 'chicken and egg' thing going here, let me expand.
Those that empathise more would seem to lean more towards Veganism I think. Being 'manly' or being less empathetic of course means that killing animals is not an issue. So the real question seems to be between empathy and veganism (except for those that chose being vegan as a life choice or the 'trendy' thing to do ). Is empathy manly? I dont play the game of stereotypes. Is being empathetic a human trait? I believe it is, but it has been separated from us.
Unfortunatly, in todays society, the choice of empathy is really removed because one can just enter a supermarket and buy a piece of meat that has no resemblance to an animal right off the shelf, its as easy as lifting co-co pops. Its just presented as another foodstuff in a packet and no more thought for the average consumer is given. Therefore no empathy required.
On the other side of the coin, I believe one should have the experience of killing an animal if one should believe it is OK to pick a part of them from a chilled shelf. I believe in all things leadership is by example, and this was no different. Under professional guidance, I have killed a sheep for food. I would not say it is horrific (as it was done under kind circumstances), but I found myself stroking the animal and talking to it after the 'death blow'. I won't go into the details here.
Suffice to say my meat intake has drastically declined, but not gone completely as a consequence. I am, however, moving more and more toward a plant based diet. Does that make me less a man? That really depends on your definition of a man. You decide if you think that makes you a wiser judge, meanwhile I'll just be me. I do know that killing after killing will dull you to a point where it would be normal. Do I choose to do that? No.
Let me be frank though, should it become a survival situation, I probably would kill an animal to eat. Maybe we should be asking the question as to why foodstuff plants are not readily available everywhere. Would it not be better to plant apple trees to line a road? would it not be better to encourage vegetable planting in parks and gardens? why do we insist on trees in public being barren or chastising people for having food growing instead of useless lawns?
I'm sorry, I digress. To answer your question from my own point of view? No, It does not make one less manly or womanly to not eat meat in the same way it would not make someone less of a person because they love another person or animal.
We really have to get back to judging an individual by their actions. Not eating meat may just have those 8 things to their favor from the article, but I would ask 'does it make them a better person?'
WOW, thanks for the post man, dont know where all that came from :-)