How Food is Viewed in the American Culture Essay examples -- nutrition

Most spate wouldnt deny that solid food is vital to ein truthday life, but maybe it has more importance than just simply nourishing our bodies. According to Carole M. Counihan, a doctor of anthropology, food is so important that society has constructed rules regarding its consumption. Counihan emphasizes in her 1992 Anthropology every quarter article, Food Rules in the United States Individualism, Control and Hierarchy, that these rules serve as the mean through which human beings construct reality (Counihan, 1992, p. 55). Counihan advocates for the importance of studying food rules by explaining that knowledge around how food is viewed in our culture stinkpot do three shrinkgs improve understanding of other cultures food rules, ply nutrition education programs to mesh with these rules, and reveal an look of society that helps maintain our sure stratification system, which has not been thoroughly examined as yet (Counihan, 1992). Through her study of food journals kept by t he Statesn college students, Counihan argues that their adhesion to food rules suggests that students strongly believe in self-control and individualism. Consequently, these beliefs reinforce our current social hierarchies, specifically classism, racism, and sexism. Counihans object that our rules about food allow for the perpetuation of sexism is a compelling one that I very much(prenominal) agree with. I have personally enamorn my best friend innovation her entire diet and exercise regimen based on what her swell thinks. Although this article was written in 1992, I believe the message it conveys pull up stakes still be applicable in years to come. Counihans argument is multifaceted she explores a school of thought that college students follow certain rules about food that have been int... ... is important. But now that we have done so, it is raze more important that we take steps to change what is happening. Thats wherefore the recent focus on being healthy rather than t hin and campaigns like the Dove Beauty Campaign where women are encouraged to see the beauty in how they currently are so monumental to ever-changing what Americans value. Even though Counihan wrote this article eighteen years ago, it still has applications today. I do question her study methods. Using a small strain of food journals from students being taught to think anthropologically could skew results. I would be very interested to see a larger study done today, oddly with some progress being made in the adaptation of Americas values.Works CitedCounihan, C. M. (1992). Food Rules in the United States Individualism, Control, and Hierarchy. Anthropology Quarterly, 65(2), 55-66.