Eighth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

In this paper we examine how the school lunchbox has become a contemporary site of governmental surveillance, intervention and reform. Drawing on Popkewitz’s (2008) concept of pedagogicalization, we describe how school lunches act as a kind of normalizing and regulating device to educate on what it means to have an acceptable lunch, be a responsible parent (Pike & Leahy, 2012) and have and/or be a healthy child (Evans, De Pian & Rich, 2011). Our international investigation considers school practices and policies in Australia, New Zealand, and United States. Drawing on the field of governmentality studies our discourse analysis of key policies, curriculum documents and program websites and materials reveals the widespread use of the school lunch experience as a (global) strategy to instill ideological and normative messages around health, consumption and responsibility. Our analysis then turns to examine the role of educators in this process and the various subject positions they are encouraged to assume with regards to the health and wellness discourses in circulation. We conclude by suggesting that the lunchbox has become a powerful governmental device that works to produce particular notions of the healthy self and parenting that are potentially problematic and may indeed produce counter effects.