Mater familias: Counter-narratives of sexism and heteronormativity in the Italian food culture /

Abstract

This study explores the counter-narratives regarding sexist and heteronormative content that characterizes Italian food culture. Data was collected from 21 qualitative interviews with participants who are active in various sectors of food production, distribution, and consumption. The findings show that four main counter-narratives, all based on personal experiences, represent narrative resistance to oppressive and marginalizing views of women and homosexuals. Specifically, 1) women’s refusal to be heavily involved with food acquisition and preparation, thus removing these activities from the woman’s domain; 2) women’s attempts to make their domestic cooking public, breaking the boundaries of women’s cooking as a family oriented activity; 3) men’s reformulation of masculinity as also a construct that can be gained through cooking at home for their children and 4) the awareness that homosexuals are an essential enrichment for Italian food culture. In addition to explaining how counter-narratives contrast sexism and heteronormativity in Italian food and wine culture, this contribution presents considerations about how these counter-narratives are produced and how they compare to those that operate in other cultural contexts.