Fourteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

What is Culture? In the broad sense, culture according to Mary Jane Collier is how it has been historically, whether it is through symbols, meanings, or norms (LittleJohn). In sociology, culture can be how we share languages, customs, beliefs, rules, arts, knowledge, and collective identities and memories by members of within a group. In this case, the culture of college students is how food insecurity does not just impact one socioeconomic group as many lack a sense of belonging that extends beyond the degrees we are pursuing, the research we are conducting, and/or the work we do to support the university. Cultural identity is how a certain characteristic emerges from a particular situation according to Collier (LittleJohn). In this case, a college student’s cultural identity is a young adult between the ages of 18-25, studying towards a four-year degree from a college or university, and may or may not live at home with their immediate family but may live at a dormitory with their peers. On the other hand, the cultural identity of food insecurity according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), where an individual lacks three culturally appropriate adequate meals per day. Being a college student is not far different from being food insecure. How can this be if the cultural identity of a college student is different from that of being food insecure? This culture of being food insecure affects the culture of being a college student according to Mary Jane Collier.