Gendering of Food Culture

Abstract

In the following work “Gendering of Food Culture” gender, food and culture are the main themes, which are interconnected. I have tried to look at the multiple of sources in order to get a better sense of gender, food and cultural history. Generally, gender history is limited to the study of male and female. But it has a broad perspective. Gender is related with culture, custom and even with food also. This paper revolves around the food culture. Food is a new topic, which became a part of historical and anthropological studies. Food history is very interesting, as lot of things connected to it is revealing. Idea of food history came later, which is something new and interesting. Like a gender history, food history is a modern study. Infact there are variety of ancient and medieval sources, which do mentions about food culture and practices. It’s a stereotypical concept to symbolise women as food. As Caroline Walker Bynum said that the religious significance of food changed its meaning under medieval women. I have tried to trace the concept of feasting and fasting. Besides, I have also tried to look at the method of food practice in the west and the east.