Hungry? Food Insecurity, Social Stigma and Embarrassment in the UK
Abstract
In the context of the economic recession and welfare reform in the UK there have been ongoing political debates regarding food insecurity. Food has an important role in defining people’s identities, yet the rapid growth in the number of food banks and food donation points in supermarkets and schools suggests a normalisation of food aid. Moreover, an estimated three million individuals are thought to be at risk of malnutrition in the UK. We examine: the discourse of food aid and the demonisation of those living in poverty, the scale of malnutrition, and the experiences of food bank users by drawing on survey data and case studies. Substantial numbers of people were constrained in their food choices, whilst food bank users had concerns about the social stigma of food aid. It is questionable whether the present policy approach is economically and politically efficient given the impact on people’s health and well-being.
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Biographies
Kingsley Purdam is a lecturer in social research methods and statistics at the University of Manchester. He is an expert in rights and equality and in research with hard to reach groups. He has conducted challenging social research including on behalf of the Home Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government. His research has been published in a number of leading academic journals and has been cited in government, legal and media debates.
Elisabeth A Garratt is a researcher and PhD student in social statistics at the University of Manchester and at the Centre for Social Investigation, Nuffield College, Oxford. She is researching the impact of income on mental health in families with young children. She was formerly a research officer at the Oxford Institute for Social Policy. She has worked on high-profile research projects for the UK Government including the English Indices of Deprivation and research for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Aneez Esmail is Professor of General Practice at the University of Manchester and works as a clinician, teacher and researcher. His high-profile research into inequality in the NHS has led to a number of important research breakthroughs including in relation to patient safety. His work has been the subject of numerous media articles and television documentaries.
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Article first published online: July 11, 2016
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Published online: August 11, 2015
Published OnlineFirst: July 11, 2016
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