Maternal foodwork e biopolitica dell’alimentazione infantile

Journal title SALUTE E SOCIETÀ
Author/s Sebastiano Benasso, Luisa Stagi
Publishing Year 2018 Issue 2018/3
Language Italian Pages 17 P. 72-88 File size 169 KB
DOI 10.3280/SES2018-003006
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Within the neoliberal framework, the intersection among cultural conditioning about risk, consumption and socialization of the future "good citizens" produces a strong pressure on parenthood. The gendered family duty balancing targets such pressure especially toward mothers, as the main responsible for children’s protection and integration. In this frame, foodwork becomes a powerful control device applied for assessing maternal skills. In the article we analyse the narratives of a group of mothers who choose non-conforming food practices for their sons. Throughout interviews with veg* mothers, we explore the symbolical frameworks, practices and discursive strategies they apply in order to negotiate or question the mainstream dietary norms. Moreover, we give particular attention to the relation with the normative purpose of the institutions which intervene, with different extents of interference, in evaluating the adequacy of these habits.

Keywords: Foodwork; intensive mothering; organic child; veg*; biopolitics; food practices.

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  • Gouvernementalité et alimentation Sebastiano Benasso, Luca Guzzetti, Luisa Stagi, in Revue des sciences sociales /2019 pp.66
    DOI: 10.4000/revss.3842

Sebastiano Benasso, Luisa Stagi, Maternal foodwork e biopolitica dell’alimentazione infantile in "SALUTE E SOCIETÀ" 3/2018, pp 72-88, DOI: 10.3280/SES2018-003006