Topic > Food choices based on gender and social context

On an average day, most Americans consume some amount of food. With food consumption, there is an underlying message in what they choose to eat. Their hiring choices are more than just survival needs, they go far beyond that. By allowing Americans to choose their own foods to eat, they are given a feeling of power and satisfaction. Choosing food is a twisted behavior that comes from instinct and arises from many integral factors. Since the early 1800s, men and women had distinct roles in society. The images depicted of them continued to play a role in influencing what foods they should eat. Since women are seen as a symbol of delicacy, they are expected to eat small portions while men take larger ones. Both groups also tend to eat the foods they eat because of the environments they are exposed to. As Americans, we live in a culture where food dominates most of our lives and the choice of what we put in our mouths is firmly fixed with gender roles and social context. Both men and women were seen as two different people with different and conflicting expectations. Although their duties separated them from each other for half the day, when it came time for the family to reunite, it was usually during meal times. Once upon a time, what the family ate, the woman also ate. Today some of these women cook different foods for their families than what they eat. With societal pressure to be thin, women are constantly trying to maintain a healthy and slim-looking body. It's as if they are expected to start a family and then support it by controlling their appetites. Compared to men, there are some women who tend to… use paper… before returning home, take everything they can while traveling because it is much more convenient than preparing a meal. Americans who always get home on time for dinner will make different choices than a person who works late-night shifts. What people see at a given moment will convince them to choose the foods of the day. The food decisions Americans make every day are influenced by other factors that include cultural, biological, and economic influences. The food choices Americans make are simple forms of self-expression. Behind each choice there is not only an influence, but a story that derives from it and which allows the new generations to learn more about eating habits. Whether through the influence of gender or environment, Americans will always use their food and food choices to leave an impact behind.