Overview
- One of the first inductive, qualitative studies of the experience of food insecurity
- Covers a range of topics intersecting with food insecurity, from finances, academic success, childhood food insecurity, stigma and shame, secrecy, and other areas
- Suggests ways to engage the university in broader conversations about food insecurity and provides ideas for solutions that go beyond the food pantry
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About this book
This volume explores the experience of hunger and food insecurity among college students at a large, public university in north Texas. Ninety-two clients of the campus food pantry volunteered to share their experiences through qualitative interviews, allowing the author to develop seven profiles of food insecurity, while at once exploring the impact of childhood food insecurity and various coping strategies. Students highlighted the issues of stigma and shame; the unwillingness to discuss food insecurity with their peers; the physical consequences of hunger and poor nutrition; the associations between mental health and nutrition; the academic sacrifices and motivations to finish their degree in the light of food insecurity; and the potential for raising awareness on campus through university engagement. Henry concludes the book with a discussion of solutions—existing solutions to alleviate food insecurity, student-led suggestions for additional resources, solutions in place at otheruniversities that serve as potential models for similar campuses—and efforts to change federal policy.
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Keywords
Table of contents (7 chapters)
Reviews
“These two very different books provide useful counterpoints on campus food insecurity, a growing phenomenon only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. … Together they provide both a balanced treatment of the subject and some remarkably interesting insights and strategies that other college communities can utilize.” (Mark B. Lapping, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, Vol. 11 (2), 2021-2022) “A poignant portrayal of what it means to be a college student today, this thoughtful and timely book illuminates the lived experiences of students who are struggling to get enough to eat and how they cope with this reality. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand today’s college students and how we can better support them in their educational goals.” (Katharine M. Broton, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, University of Iowa, USA, and co-editor (with Clare L. Cady) of Food Insecurity on Campus (2020))
“Lisa Henry has done a great service by bringing to the fore the seriousness of food insecurity on college campuses. Henry not only presents the barriers to graduating faced by students, but also solutions to destigmatize food insecurity, increase food options, and improve nutritional adequacy, as provided by student participants in her ethnographic study. Students, faculty, college administrators, and policy-makers will benefit by reading this book.” (David Himmelgreen, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of South Florida, USA)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Lisa Henry is Professor of Anthropology at the University of North Texas, USA. As an applied medical anthropologist, her research interests include food insecurity, globalization and health, indigenous healing systems, biomedicine and healthcare delivery, and anthropology in public health. She is Past-President of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA).
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Experiences of Hunger and Food Insecurity in College
Authors: Lisa Henry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31818-5
Publisher: Palgrave Pivot Cham
eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-31817-8Published: 20 November 2019
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-31818-5Published: 12 November 2019
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVII, 131
Number of Illustrations: 18 illustrations in colour
Topics: Ethnography, Social Structure, Social Inequality, Sociology of Education, Higher Education