Food, Identity, and African-American Women With Type 2 Diabetes: An Anthropological Perspective

Abstract

In Brief Dietary practices are deeply rooted in history and culture. Anthropologists have long recognized that food choices and modes of eating reflect many symbolic, affective, familial, and gender-specific associations. African-American women with type 2 diabetes may find that modifying their dietary patterns is particularly challenging given the highly ritualized nature of eating and food selection and the meanings encoded in foods and food-centered events in the African-American experience. When health care providers understand the historical and social shaping of food patterns, they can work in partnership with people with type 2 diabetes to shift cultural norms toward healthy eating.

Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults

“…Food is an integral part of many extended Black family gatherings and traditions (James, 2004;Kittler & Sucher, 2008;Liburd, 2003). Among most Black families eating is a "ritual" that communicates love towards other family members (Baskin, Odoms-Young, Kumanyika, & Ard, 2009).…”

“…"Food has traditionally been a catalyst for social interaction…for some Blacks, eating is an 'intimate' or a 'spiritual' experience that is shared with others" (Kittler & Sucher, 2008, p. 220). In general cultural food beliefs have a deep, spiritual connection to the past for Blacks, which dates back to slavery (Braithwaite, Taylor, & Treadwell, 2009;Dudek, 2010;Hurt, 2013;James, 2004;Kittler & Sucher, 2008;Liburd, 2003;Luke, Cooper, Prewitt, Adeyemo, & Forrester, 2001). This connection symbolizes love, hospitality, compassion, comfort, happiness, resilience, and collective ethnic identity, to name a few (Bailey, 2006;Hurt, 2013;James, 2004;Kittler & Sucher, 2008;Liburd, 2003).…”

Culture and Food Practices of African American Women With Type 2 Diabetes

“…Women more than men are the gatekeepers of health for the family and they tend to be more engaged in household activities, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation (Wong, Gucciardi, Li, & Grace, 2005). Cultural influences on food practices generally are passed from one generation of women to the next generation (Denham, Mandogian, & Schuster, 2007;Liburd, 2003). That means that having women improve their own dietary habits likely improves eating habits for their families as well, thereby decreasing the diabetes risk of future generations (Sumlin, & Garcia, 2012).…”

“…The symbolism of food and cultural food practices for AA is deeply rooted in the history of black people specifically dating back to the time of slavery. Historically, ethnic groups have been identified based on social interactions, which can include interactions related to food practices (Liburd, 2003). Food serves as a symbol of belonging among members of various groups and cultures (Barthes, 2008).…”

The relationship among serum levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and mtDNA 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and dietary antioxidants intake in Type 2 Diabetes

“…African Americans (Liburd, 2003) and Haitian Americans may find it challenging to follow a high quality diet because of cultural and ritualized nature of food choices and socio-economic status . The adherence to a high quality diet has been shown to influence glycemic control in African American women with T2D (Skelly et al, 2009) and thereby the possible delay of the onset of complications (ADA, 2013).…”