Women Ordering Food Under Male Names Get More? New Study Explains Why
New research and viral TikTok experiment reveal how gender-based names affect food portion sizes in takeout orders, highlighting potential unconscious bias in service industry.
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A recent viral TikTok video by Emily Joy Lemus, known as @emilyjoylemus, has ignited an intriguing conversation: do women receive smaller portions when ordering takeout under their own names compared to using male names? The claim suggests that orders placed under masculine names get extra sides, larger portions, and more sauce. Is this a playful myth or a subtle form of bias?
The experiment was conducted by Lemus over several weeks, during when she alternated between ordering food from Chipotle restaurant using male names like “Daniel” or “Yossi” and her own female name. The content creator observed that the orders under male names seemed more generous, only to revert to standard portion sizes when she resumed using her real name.
The online response has been divided. Some see it as a humorous commentary on gender stereotypes, while others view it as evidence that women may unknowingly receive less, raising questions about unconscious bias in everyday service.
What Science Reveals
Supporting this anecdotal evidence, a 2025 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology confirms a link between perceived gender and portion size expectations. Researchers found that servers tend to anticipate men wanting larger portions, while women are expected to be content with less. This unconscious bias affects decision-making, including how food is plated and served (ScienceDirect).
These findings align with previous studies demonstrating that portion size perceptions are deeply influenced by gender norms and that larger servings lead to increased consumption, often without diners’ awareness.
Emily Lemus's video has garnered over 430,000 likes on TikTok, from where it represents clearly the conclusions of this social research.
The Social Media Trend Spreads
The idea has taken off on social media platforms, with many users experimenting by using different names for their takeout orders to test the theory. In Israel, similar anecdotes have emerged, particularly from popular delivery services, where some customers swear the tactic yields bigger meals.
Whether playful or revealing, this trend invites a broader discussion about subtle biases and their impact on everyday experiences, even down to what’s on our plates.