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  • Essay / The Connection Between Food and Identity

    Table of ContentsIntroductionGender and FoodFood and Social ClassMigration and FoodConclusionIntroductionFood has its unique place and role in describing identity. This can be central to both group and individual identity. When a group eats, we can affirm both its diversity, its hierarchy, as well as its unity and disunity. However, the relationship between humans and food is undoubtedly complex. This varies from biological functions to cultural functions or from nutritional functions to symbolic functions. Overall, when we study food and its connections to identities, we are on the path to understanding its historical and cultural context. This essay describes different issues, such as gender, social class, migration or memory, to show the link between food and identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Gender and Food We can divide the connection between food and gender into three parts. The first is food production. It is evident here that the abilities of men and women differ due to their power. However, women are responsible for half of the world's food production, and in most developing countries they produce between 60 and 80 percent of the food. The second division concerns the preparation or cooking of food. It is well known that it is women who are responsible for this, starting when they breastfeed their babies. Nowadays, in most families, women are responsible for buying food and shopping. Additionally, they influence the flow of food in their family in one way or another. However, this does not mean that they are in a position of power, because this responsibility is not equivalent to control. The other side of cooking is consumption and again this is the difference between male and female. Women and men have a different approach to food choice. It has also been reported that women have more knowledge about food and nutrition and are more invested in food-related issues. For example, Uccula and Nuvoli (2017) showed that women are more likely than men to overestimate their weight and, therefore, are more likely to cut down on their meals to lose weight. Additionally, women tend to consume more fruits and vegetables and less fat or salt, showing that they place greater importance on a healthy diet. Food and Social Class In general, social class is considered one of the main and important variables in sociology. Today, the impact on social behavior by social class is being questioned as we move toward a society without fixed status groups. Many studies have reported that food consumption presents certain social inequalities. These studies also showed that while middle-class women pay a lot of attention to the health and taste preferences of their family members when shopping or cooking, lower-class women pay a lot of attention to cost when it’s about choosing foods. Middle-class people generally eat healthier diets than lower-class people. The considerations behind food choices may explain this class difference in eating habits. We live in an age where one can find information on almost anything and gain knowledge in matters.