Topic > The connection between food and identity

IndexIntroductionGender and foodFood and social classMigration and foodConclusionIntroductionFood has its unique place and role in describing identity. It can be central to both group and individual identity. When a group eats its diversity, its hierarchy, as well as its unity and disunity at the same time can be affirmed. However, the relationship between people and food is certainly complex. It varies from biological to cultural functions, from nutritional to symbolic ones. In short, by studying food and its link with identities we find ourselves on the path to understanding its historical and cultural background. This essay describes different issues, such as gender, class, migration or memory, to show the connection between food and identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Gender and Food We can divide the connection between food and gender into three parts. The first is food production. Here of course it is obvious 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 produce between 60 and 80 percent of the food. The second division concerns the preparation or cooking of food. It is known that women take charge, starting with breastfeeding their children. Nowadays, in most families, women are responsible for purchasing food, shopping, also somehow influence the flow of food in their families, however this does not mean that they are in a position of power , because responsibility is not the same as control. The other side of the kitchen is consumption and here too there is the difference between male and female. Women and men have a different approach to choosing food. It was also reported that women have greater knowledge about food and nutrition and are more interested in food-related issues. For example, Uccula and Nuvoli (2017) demonstrated that women are more likely than men to overestimate their weight and consequently have a greater desire to reduce meals to lose weight. Furthermore, women tend to eat more fruit and vegetables and less fat and salt, which shows that they attach greater importance to a healthy diet. Food and Social Class Generally, social class is considered one of the main and important variables in sociology. Nowadays, the impact of social classes on social behavior is questioned as we are moving towards a society without fixed status groups. Many studies have reported that food consumption has some social inequalities. These studies have also shown that while middle-class women pay close attention to family members' health and taste preferences when shopping or cooking, lower-class women pay close attention to costs when choosing food. Middle-class people generally have healthier diets than lower-class people. Considerations underlying food choices may explain this class difference in eating habits. We live in days where we can find information about almost anything, and gaining knowledge about food is no exception. The more we know, the more we pay attention to what, when and how we eat. Nowadays we have many choices and different variations of the same product, however, if it is healthier, it becomes more expensive. That's why when you are in the middle or higher social class you will shop and cook according to your health and taste preferences, while on a budget.