Food: An Important Feature Of Our Identity Essay Example

through eating and drinking habits. (Claxton, 2008). Every human individual is merely a construction of their choice of food biologically, psychologically and socially. In trying to understand food and identity, there are two primary statements that one should strive to understand; “What you eat is what you are” and “what you eat constructs which you are.” Eating is perceived to be a very personal act that communicates more about our culture, beliefs and social background. (Decanted, 2014). Various factors associated with culture, history, social life and economic factors shape our food choices.

Changes in food choices offer insights about one’s personality and where they come from, their religion as well as beliefs. Food habits challenge one to look past what is on the plate but rather analyze what it says about them as a person. (Almerico, 2014). We have several dietary choices such as paleo, vegan, vegetarian, halal, Atkins and pescatarian, among others. (Kiple& Ornelas, 2002).

All the above categories are the omnivore. Including or rejecting a certain type of food from your diet for health reasons or religious purposes says something about us. (Decanted, 2014). Culture comes about when people create a tradition through the habit of making sense of their physical and social worlds.

(Almerico, 2014). Food choices, preparation of certain meals and eating habits distinguishes someone’s age, status, sex, culture, ethnicity, and even their occupation. For instance in some communities coming together for a meal is an important social act which is recognized through fellowship and social obligation. It can also be accompanied by the community’s rituals and customs to signify a special gathering.

(Claxton, 2008). The greatest significance of eating food type is that is

unique to every human being that consumes it. Something that we consume on a daily basis is what differentiates us. (Decanted, 2014).

The famous saying of “You are what you eat” attempts to answer the question of; “what does the food on your plate signify” and “How do food practices contribute to personal identity.” (Shapin, 2014). The two questions tackle the concept of food to be a signifier of culture, and builder of personal identity. From a survey by Sadella and Burroughs (1981), it reveals that people perceive you differently based on the type of food you eat. The survey had five different categories of food; fast foods, synthetic foods, health foods, vegetarian and gourmet foods.

Each of these five diets had the different characterization of the individuals who consumed the food. People who consumed synthetic foods and fast foods were perceived to be religious conservatives. Health food eaters were classified as Democrats and antinuclear activists. The study also revealed that vegetarians were seen to be pacifists with tendencies of driving foreign cars.

Similarly, gourmet food personalities were characterized as people who were sophisticated and liberal. This information was obtained through letting people describe them and doing personality tests. (Almerico, 2014). Another survey that was intended to find the perceptions of similar looking people. This included identifying an individual by what they look like and what their diets could look like. The study was conducted by Stein and Nemeroff in 1995 among university students profiles.

The students were given two photos of people who were nearly identical and asked to determine who were a “good” food eater and a “bad” food eater. Students classified “good” food eaters to be

thinner, active and physically fit in comparison to the people with almost similar characteristics but ate “bad” food. From the photos and the profiles, people with “good” eating habits were termed to be friendly, attractive unlike those who ate bad foods. (Almerico, 2014). Another factor that greatly contributed to the people’s eating habits was social and psychological factors.

On a study done by Larson and Story (2009), it revealed that children have a tendency of choosing foods that are being consumed by an adult they admire. The adult can be a family member, a parent or even an older friend. With children’s nature of liking fictional characters, they are also more likely to choose to eat foods eaten by their favorite fictional actor, character in a comic book and their peers. From the children’s choices is it evident that the social conscience and peer pressure has contributed substantially too many children’s choices of food. A group’s approval of a particular food or disapproval had impacted what a particular individual would prefer to eat or drink.

(Almerico, 2014). In children, the term neophobia can be used to define the tendencies to accept or deny a certain type of food. Children do this because the foods are either unknown to them, they are unusual, or their body system does not recognize them. Neophobia behavior starts to appear when children start exploring with familiar and unfamiliar foods. This behavior is mostly experienced in children between two and five years and disappears with time.

The decline of neophobia is influenced by social factors such as education and peer influence. (Shortridge, 2004).). Food is also an expression, and the place where food is

consumed is a determinant for self-identity. When one wants to dine, they want to experience more than food. (Kiple & K. Ornelas,2002).There are several factors to be considered before one decided to dine in a particular restaurant.

These factors include the atmosphere, the location, the service delivery as well as the value and cost of what is being served. The choice of the restaurant has to be convenient for one to choose to dine there. For instance, if one had kids coming along for a meal, they need a restaurant with a playground where the kids can play. Similarly, the same restaurant can take different setting to fit the needs of a couple who want to have a romantic night. The settings of the table with candle-lit bistro and soft romantic music playing softly will make the evening for that particular customer. Ethnic restaurants also offer an environment for one to feel at home by serving the customer with familiar but well-conceptualized and prepared meals.

For new explorers and people from different ethnicities, it will be a chance to try something new and get to understand the other community better. (Almerico, 2014). Food brings out an aspect of symbolism. For instance, when people come together and break bread with one another, it is a symbol of togetherness.

People come together to share a meal, and the act of sharing symbolizes warmth, invitational and jovial mood. The type of bread one eats also classifies one’s social class. The white bread was traditionally being consumed by people of the upper class while the dark bread was for the poor. In today’s society, whole wheat bread is most preferred for individuals

who are keen about their health.

Similarly, some communities share and break bread during wedding ceremonies as a sign of their unity. Ultimately in the Christian religion, bread represents the body of Jesus Christ and is shared as a sacrament of the communion. (Almerico, 2014). Another symbolic act is one that most politicians in American tend to do; eating sliders or burgers in public.

Sliders are considered to be one of the messiest foods to eat in America, and they are mostly associated with blue-collar workers. The act of an American President like Barrack Obama wrestling a slider in public shows they are willing to step into the majority of the voters’ world and demonstrate their credibility by stepping off their culinary podium. (Decanted, 2014). Food can also identify with the political identity of a person regarding culture. Geopolitics of consumption has shown a stereotyped way in which many nations perceive others through their foods. For instance, the Germans are Krauts, the French are seen to be frogs, Mexicans, on the other hand, are Beaners.

At the end of the perception food on a global world has changed across ethnic backgrounds. The racial boundaries are very permeable. Hence, there is more ethnic diversity. Societal shifts and change in a social class have changed as people believe self-identity has more to do with the choices we make in the foods we eat and where we come from. The western culture has had a much more democratic facet in today’s society, and consumers are now food-literate.

Decanted, 2014). Cultural identity can be achieved through food as what we consume does define who we are and where we come from. Cultural identity

is based on how our eating habits are transmitted or reflect in our culture. The culture of each community changes with time. Culture is a set of values, beliefs and attitudes that are practiced by an individual community.

When it comes to food choice, some foods are attributed to religious beliefs while others are associated with ethnic behavior. At one point in an individual’s life, one gets to affiliate a particular food type to their culture or childhood memory or a function that one was a part of in their life. Food keeps and holds a dear memory of our families no matter the distance. It reminds of where we come from and in some cases some foods from home become our comfort foods during stressful moments of life. As culture is not inherited but rather learned, cultural identity does not necessarily constrain or limit food choices to foods from our race or ethnic group.

Cultural identity can be shaped by social class, and the profession one settles into. For instance in the United States, it is the tradition that one does not speak with food in their mouth. This tradition has spread and with time people have respect for such a tradition despite their ethnic background. It is a sign of respect for the other people eating around you, and the act of sharing food signifies equality and acceptance of the other person. (Almerico, 2014).

African slaves who were in the Caribbean used to cook food not only to express creativity but also as a way of building African cuisines during that process. It was a way of showing their cultural identity which ended up influencing that

of their master. (Claxton, 2008). Due to civilizations, most countries depend on one staple food. In most cultures today, people feel unsatisfied if their primary meal does not have a traditional staple food product in it.

In fact, over 75% of the world’s population, today depends on starch as the primary product in their meals. Industrialization and Western culture has seen the disappearance of most traditional cuisine and instead introduced standardized western foods. As a result, there has been a significant loss regarding cultural identity as there are more manufactured and processed foods in the market. (Claxton.2008) Over time, the ethnic foods we knew have changed in comparison to 1920s and 1930s. Traditionally ethnic food meant chow mein, and not dim sum, pastrami and not bagels, spaghetti and not pizza, tamales and not Matija's. In the 1930s, many restaurants had no idea how to come up with a pizza but with time, these ethnic foods have completely changed giving a different identity.

(Gabaccia, 1998). Technological progress and development of modern ways of cooking and transporting things has changed the food world and extended the use of current foods and equipment to most cultures. Technology has contributed to the erosion of indigenous cultures and encouraging people to abandon their traditional foods as they are associated with people of the small social class. For instance, MacDonald and Coca-Cola were among the official food suppliers during a football game in World Cup competition of 1998. There were many people who had come to witness the games and ended up eating the fast foods and drinks from the two companies.

This choice of food was meant to show the superiority associated with

fast foods in America. (Claxton.2008). A depiction of how food can define your social class was used through an advertisement by Australian Meat Pie. In the ad, the video shows a caption of two guys who look like they had been doing blue-collar jobs relaxing in a truck eating a meat pie. Across from their truck is a fancy restaurant with two men wearing the fancy suit as they take their meals in no hurry? The two men in suits look like people in white collar jobs while the other two are regular blue collar individuals. This is a definite highlight of the difference in class.

The white collar class can afford a decent meal in a restaurant while the blue-collar workers may not be in a position to eat more than a burger or a meat pie. The type of food one eats a social marker of their class. (Claxton.2008). Food choice and identity is not always a constant factor in an individual’s life.

People get to grow and move from one region to another and enter into new social groups which influence change in their choices. For instance, if one moves to an area that mostly available starch-based products, your food habits will be modified to change with the availability of starch foods. Over time as people grow they get informed by knowing different personal preferences, identity needs, socio-cultural, resources and other factors. The change in processing, manufacturing and packaging of food has affected ethical consumption in different ways such as organic, local and artisan. Diet and identity constitute of each other mutually but ethical issues contradict the success of industrialized food as well as

economies of the society.

(Decanted, 2014). Understanding where food comes from and how it delivers helps one in food choice If one gets to know where food is coming from there is a higher probability that they will be macro-neurotic. Industrialization has profoundly impacted the food industry and lost the initial sense of the freshness of food. An example of foods from Italian and Mexican ethnicity is that they are a social thing that brings people together. Their foods are usually fresh, delicious, hearty, and you can smell them miles away. When an Italian moves to America, there are plenty of grocery stores with lots of groceries to choose from.

The only problem is that these fruits or vegetables are fresh as they are stored in the refrigerators for way too long. They lose the freshness as they wrapped in plastic papers and stored in frozen state. The fact that they are stored adds an unnecessary cost to the consumer hence the economic factor. The change in technology has also contributed to increasing in genetically modified foods (GMOs) which are available in most grocery stores in big towns. (Capatti, Montanari, ; O'Healy, 2003). The GMOs have contributed in the loss of authenticity in food, especially ethnic foods.

When food lacks authenticity, and it is expensive, then there will be less “ethnic” excitement to look forward to in the food. (Godoy, 2016). When it comes to sex women, identify more with food more than men do. Most women spend a better portion of their day in the kitchen. Traditionally cooking was considered a woman’s responsibility but over time, the myth has changed as men are also getting into the

cooking business. (Counihan, & Kaplan, 1998) .

Cooking is a way in which women express themselves; they show their oppression, exploitation, and their culture. Women serve and ensure all people are fed. This is a selfless act that defines them as human beings for putting other people’s needs ahead of their own. In today’s world Western women have taken to dieting as a regular day activity as a result when hunger comes they go hungry as they serve the men and boys of the family. Despite the conditions under which they operate, their immutable character has changed the socio-cultural and corporeal domains of food as they challenge global capitalism. They are making a dent in the culinary world to reshape the food system.

As women explore and learn to understand the food system, they get to express their relevance in a household environment and the formal economy. (Williams-Forson, & Counihan, 2011). To identify how people perceive in New Hampshire, I did a survey as well as an interview with various people from within New Hampshire and those from other towns. I had two of my friends with me to help with the interview. The total number of people interviewed was 60. The total number of males was 25 and females 35.

The participants were also from the age of 15 to 60 years old. My interviews were based on gender and age as the core factor in determining food choice. Since interviews are more personal, I had three questions to be used by my four friends in conducting the interviews. It was also critical that the questions were easy to understand hence do not need explanations. The questions

included:

• Does food define one’s identity or ethnic background?
• Do social factors such as education and peer pressure influence our food choice?
• Which type of food do you consume more? Healthy food, traditional foods or fast foods?

Data obtained from the interviews revealed that 67% believed food does define one’s identity. 30% believed food does not define one’s identity, but rather the surrounding factors.

7% were unsure as they came from two or more ethnic group. The second question of whether social factors influenced food choice was met which a divided opinion. The young adults were quick to say yes while adults were reluctant on giving an explanation or saying no. When it came to the type of food consumed more by many, the young adults voted for fast foods and the percentage was 53%.

Adults between the age of 30 to 44 preferred healthy foods hence 29% and participants between 45 and 60 years old preferred traditional food hence 18%. The preference of which type of food they consume was based on some people being too busy to cook while some had to diet due to health issues. The pie chart below illustrates data on food choices. For my second survey where I used questionnaires, my primary focuses on the white-collar workers and blue-collar workers.

I also concentrated on an older age group between 25-45 years. The main aim of this survey was to understand the perception of people about other culture’s food and how technology has affected food identity. The questions in the questionnaire included:

• How often do you eat food from your ethnic background?
• How does your culture compare to other cultures?

From the questionnaires, most of the participants did felt their culture had more to offer than the other. Half of the white collar workers had tried food from other cultures while a third of the blue collar workers had tried food from other cultures.

The main similarity that came across the two groups of employees from different social class is that they had both tried food from different cultures when they moved to the city or when they had a financial crisis. 73% of the white collar workers said they had similarities regarding food choice with their friends and those of their friends while 52% had similarities in food choice with their buddies. The table below represents the number of people influenced by other cultures’food. In conclusion, food contributes to building a person’s self-identity. What you eat defines who you are or where you come from.

Ethnicity has grown permeable with time and social factors such as education have influenced people’s food choice. One’s decision to accept or reject a particular type of food gives a perception of who they are as a person. Peer pressure is also another factor that influences food choice. The social status and location also contribute to the type of food one are likely to buy or each. Technological progress has influenced a change of food choice while eroding indigenous traditions. Western culture has also contributed to change people’s food choice.

Food choice is not inherited but rather built depending on social factors, religion, ethnicity and education.

References

1. Almerico,
   

G. (2014). Food and identity: Food studies, cultural, and personal identity, 8. Retrieved from http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/141797.pdf