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Summary with information from the lectures, tutorials, summaries of the literature (!!), and notes. Minor sociology and psychology of food, fitness and health.
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Year 3/ Block 1 / Minor / 2017The Sociology of Food, Fitness, And Health
Lecture 1 – September 2017
You know they say that children love sweet substances, because they were born that way.
However, very often the first taste of children is breast milk, which is sweet. But, the milk is not poured
into the baby by a machine. It was the mother who not only shared milk, but also comfort, body warmth,
protection. Maybe children like the sweet taste also because of these factors, which are not biological.
Sociologist in this course:
Anthony Giddens
Ulrich Beck
Talcott Parsons
Erving Goffman
Pierre Bourdieu
Norbert Elias
Short introduction to sociology
Sociology is the study of the interaction between groups and individuals in human society
The term society refers to a range of external factors that influence our beliefs and behaviours
So, why don’t you play wrestling?
So, why do you try to be healthy?
So, why do you eat three times a day?
So, why do you plan to have two babies?
Two sociological theories
Why do we bore you with sociological theories?
Look at society with different eyes
Help explain what happens in society…
… also when you do not have direct experience
First sociological theory: structural functionalism
Macro level
Stable structures of social behaviour: consensus on central values, positions and rolls
All parts of society have a function
Society is a social system
Deviance hinders the functioning of society
Social work, health care has a smoothening function; the social system keeps working
What do you think structural functionalism ‘thinks’ of deviance?
1. Deviance affirms existing norms
2. Reactions to deviance show where the moral boundaries are. And…
3. … these reactions bring people closer to each other
4. Deviance enhances social change
Sociological theory: symbolic interactionism
Micro level
Society is the product of everyday interaction between individuals
People are always interpreting; themselves, others, things, behaviours
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, Year 3/ Block 1 / Minor / 2017
Example: wall flower-experiment
SI questions what is taken for granted: Fact or meaning?
Disease is a social construction:
Something IS not a disease…
… but we CALL it a disease!
Deviance as a fact or as something fluid
Quiz time
1 The following is an example of the micro level of society:
a) Two individuals having a conversation
b) A change in the political climate of a country
c) A new economic force emerging in the global economy
d) All of the answers are correct
e) None of the answers are correct
2 What is most important in structural functionalism?
a) Consensual
b) Interpretation
c) Rationalization
3 Which of the following is true about symbolic interactionism?
a) It is a type of lens for looking at the world.
b) It is one of the major paradigms of sociological thought.
c) It is focused on language and symbols in day-to-day life.
d) It includes the belief that reality is socially constructed.
e) All of the answers are correct
f) None of the answers are correct
Literature:
Germov:
Why do we eat the way we do, what is sociology and how does it apply to food and nutrition, what are major
social trends in food production, distribution and consumption?
The social construction of food and appetite. Food is de focal point around which many social occasions
and leisure events are organised. Food and eating are the satisfaction of physiological needs. Social drivers
are cultural, religious, economic and political factors and effect the availability and consumption of food.
Food habits are not universal, natural or unavoidable. They are Social Constructions. Examples: holy cow
in India, kosher Jewish food, eating pets, kangaroo in Australia, no alcohol. Food is a bridge between nature
and culture. Food habits are learnt through culturally beliefs of what is appropriate and inappropriate food.
Gendered patterns of food: Meadowlea mum: mum who prepared home-cooked meals with margarine. Feed
the man meat: meat based meals for growing sons and hard-working husbands. Red meat tends to be more a
masculine food, while fruit and vegetables are perceived as being feminine.
The food sociology concentrates on the sociocultural, political, economic and philosophical factors that
influence our food habits. Sociologist look for patterns in human interaction and links between social
organisation and individual behaviour.
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Social appetite: the social patterning of food production, distribution and consumption.
Foods that have an acquired taste are coffee and beer. They are bitter at the first tasting and we acquire them
through a process of repetition that is socially driven, rather than biologically driven.
What is sociology. Sociology examines how society is organised, how it influences our lives and how social
change occurs. From interpersonal and small-group interactions to public policy formation and global
developments.
Sociological imagination: the way that sociological analysis is performed. Establishing a link between
personal experiences and the social environment – being able to imagine or see that the private lives of
individuals can have a social basis.
Food is often used as a metaphor in daily speech: sweetheart, honey, bad seed, couch potato, breadinner,
cheesed off. But food also has its rituals and symbolism: a birthday celebration, a wake, a wedding banquet,
a religious feast or fast, comfort food.
The basis of a sociological analysis: the four interrelated features of the sociological imagination: historical,
cultural, structural and critical. Historical factors: How have past events influenced the contemporary social
appetite? Cultural factors: what influence do tradition, cultural values and belief systems have on food habits
in the particular country, social group or social occasion? Structural factors: how do various forms of social
organisations and institutions affect the production, distribution and consumption of food? Critical factors:
why are things as they are, could they be otherwise, who benefits?
Structure/agency debate: are our food choices the result of social shaping. Social structure refers to recurring
patterns of social interaction by which people are related to each other through social institutions and social
groups. We are products of our society: laws, education, religion, economic resources and cultural beliefs
influence our lives. Agency: the term refers to the potential of individuals to independently choice in and
influence over their daily lives and society.
A small indication of the extent of social change in food habits: French cheese, Russian caviar, indian spices,
thais coconut cream in the supermarkets. They were not there two decades ago.
Culinary tourism: the promotion of gastronomic experiences and events as a key feature of tourism ->
Chinese, indian, thai cuisine in restaurants in urban areas of any country.
Cosmopolitanism: mass production and globalisation lead to pluralisation of food choices and cuisines.
Risk society: the wide variety of food choices coexist with increased risk and anxiety over what to eat, the
constant management of a risk society.
The food system. Politics, production and distribution. Food is one of the largest industries across the
globe. Increasing mass production, commodification of food. Food is a major source of profit, export
dollars, employment and concerns a range of stakeholders, corporations, unions, consumer groups,
government agencies and health professionals. Food and Nutrition system: to acknowledge the important
role of pubbing health nutrition in any food model. “The set of operations and processes involved in
transforming raw materials into foods and nutrients into health outcomes. All of which functions as a system
within biophysical and sociocultural contexts.
Mcdonaldisation of food: global phenomenon that represents the expansion of agribusiness through the
standardisation of food production and the homogenisation of food consumption. No matter where in the
world you come across, a mcD has the same look, same service, same product and tastes.
Sociological issues affecting the food system: impact of globalisation, agribusiness, role of food regulations
in relation to the corporate influences on dietary guidelines, labelling and public health nutrition.
Dietary guidance is an area for governments to involve in regulating food and nutrition. Dietary guidelines
are statements of recommendations for the way in which populations are advised to alter their food habits.
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