Gender, Food and the Gender, Food and the BodyBody

Reeves-Sanday readingReeves-Sanday reading

• ““pulling train” in college fraternitiespulling train” in college fraternities

Reinforces cultural values of patriarchy Reinforces cultural values of patriarchy Creates solidarity between fraternity Creates solidarity between fraternity

members members Rite of passage into manhood – communitasRite of passage into manhood – communitas A behavior that is not acceptable by society. A behavior that is not acceptable by society.

Disordered EatingDisordered Eating Reinforces the thin body ideal, in Western Reinforces the thin body ideal, in Western

cultures, especially for women.cultures, especially for women. Perceived as primarily a female problem, Perceived as primarily a female problem,

related to female identity. related to female identity. A form of solidarity between women.A form of solidarity between women.

1993 Canadian study of adolescent women1993 Canadian study of adolescent women Is a resistance to the role of social reproduction Is a resistance to the role of social reproduction

through the control of consumption of food.through the control of consumption of food. Refusing food breaks down social relationships, Refusing food breaks down social relationships,

especially the familyespecially the family It reflects the control of food as power.It reflects the control of food as power.

Role of Food and EatingRole of Food and Eating

• Are of interest to anthropologists Are of interest to anthropologists regarding the role they play in systems of regarding the role they play in systems of subsistence, exchange, ritual and the subsistence, exchange, ritual and the negotiation of social relationships.negotiation of social relationships.

• Important means through which human Important means through which human beings construct reality.beings construct reality.

• Reflect social concerns.Reflect social concerns.• Instrumental in the construction of gender Instrumental in the construction of gender

identity.identity.

The Power of FoodThe Power of Food

A primary resource for human biological A primary resource for human biological survivalsurvival

Integral part of forming social relationsIntegral part of forming social relations KinshipKinship GenderGender Alliances between individuals, families, statesAlliances between individuals, families, states Creates inequalitiesCreates inequalities Enables humans to adapt to their environmentEnables humans to adapt to their environment A tool to transmit cultureA tool to transmit culture

The Canada Food GuideThe Canada Food Guide

Food and GenderFood and Gender Division of LaborDivision of Labor

Historically, women have been assigned the Historically, women have been assigned the role of social reproduction, which includes both role of social reproduction, which includes both the production of social relations and biological the production of social relations and biological reproduction.reproduction.

Procreation and nurturance of future generation.Procreation and nurturance of future generation. Food preparation, family nutrition.Food preparation, family nutrition. Subordinate status – private or domestic realm. Subordinate status – private or domestic realm.

Historically, men have been assigned the role Historically, men have been assigned the role of provider and protector.of provider and protector.

A position of power.A position of power. Dominant status - public realm.Dominant status - public realm.

Stereotypical Gendered Stereotypical Gendered Roles Roles

Gender and FoodGender and Food Women and men are associated with Women and men are associated with

different types of foods and portion different types of foods and portion sizes:sizes: Men – heavy foods like meat and potatoes; Men – heavy foods like meat and potatoes;

large portionslarge portions ““man-sized” mealsman-sized” meals Foods that ‘stick to your ribs’Foods that ‘stick to your ribs’

Women – light foods like chicken and salads; Women – light foods like chicken and salads; small portions; sweetssmall portions; sweets

DaintyDainty Creative and intricate preparation and Creative and intricate preparation and

presentationpresentation

Food Across CulturesFood Across Cultures Is coded as feminineIs coded as feminine Women associated with the preparation Women associated with the preparation

and serving of food.and serving of food. Men associated with the eating of food Men associated with the eating of food

that others have preparedthat others have prepared Creates a gender hierarchyCreates a gender hierarchy Socialization of gender roles associated Socialization of gender roles associated

with foodwith food American example (Roos, 1995)American example (Roos, 1995) Gurage example (Shack, 1997)Gurage example (Shack, 1997)

Socialization of Gender RolesSocialization of Gender Roles

33rdrd World “Market Women” World “Market Women”

Life Cycle RitualsLife Cycle Rituals

Enforce and reinforce gender statusEnforce and reinforce gender status Rites of passageRites of passage Involves exchange of foodInvolves exchange of food Production and reproduction of Production and reproduction of

cultureculture Not static, varies across families, Not static, varies across families,

societies, and cultures.societies, and cultures.

The Body, Food and GenderThe Body, Food and Gender

Food and eating habits as the Food and eating habits as the embodiment of social issues.embodiment of social issues. Disordered eatingDisordered eating

AnorexiaAnorexia BulimiaBulimia ObesityObesity Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes Heart diseaseHeart disease Hypertension Hypertension

The Body as HistoricalThe Body as Historical

The body is a symbol – social The body is a symbol – social meanings are inscribed on the body.meanings are inscribed on the body. Social roles and statuses attached to Social roles and statuses attached to

maleness and femaleness.maleness and femaleness. Changes in size and shape over time, Changes in size and shape over time,

especially for women.especially for women.

Victorian WomenVictorian Women

Modern women and pop icons: Modern women and pop icons: Mid-1900s Betty Grable, and Marilyn Mid-1900s Betty Grable, and Marilyn MonroeMonroe

Late 1900s: Twiggy and Cindy Late 1900s: Twiggy and Cindy CrawfordCrawford

Early 2000: Britney Spears and Early 2000: Britney Spears and Gwen StefaniGwen Stefani

Body Shape Across CulturesBody Shape Across Cultures

The thin body ideal does not hold across The thin body ideal does not hold across culturescultures

Samoa, Fiji, Rural JamaicaSamoa, Fiji, Rural Jamaica SociocentricSociocentric EgocentricEgocentric

RecapRecap Western cultures are patriarchal with capitalist Western cultures are patriarchal with capitalist

economies based on production, consumption, economies based on production, consumption, and profit.and profit.

Food is a pawn in the political and economic Food is a pawn in the political and economic strategies of states and households.strategies of states and households.

Food creates solidarity but also inequalities and Food creates solidarity but also inequalities and subject positions.subject positions. In industrial societies, there is a problematic link In industrial societies, there is a problematic link

between food and body image.between food and body image. Issues such as “fraternity gang rape” and Issues such as “fraternity gang rape” and

“disordered eating” are embedded in gender “disordered eating” are embedded in gender identity and thus socially constructed. identity and thus socially constructed.

Gender and food are sources of inequality and Gender and food are sources of inequality and powerpower