Jewish American Foodways: The Dietary Construction of Identity

dc.contributor.advisorKotarba, Joseph A.
dc.contributor.authorKuntz, Natalie Michelle
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRomero, Rachel
dc.contributor.committeeMemberLasser, Jon
dc.date.accessioned2020-12-02T19:52:53Z
dc.date.available2020-12-02T19:52:53Z
dc.date.issued2020-12
dc.description.abstractA review of the existing social science literature reveals that food plays a major role in the construction and performance of identity. An individual’s food choices and behaviors can be influenced by social situations. Following a symbolic interactionist perspective, and using an interpretive interactionist method, I conducted qualitative interviews with Jews living in Texas who keep kosher. These interviews revealed subtle differences in participants’ actions and statements to others about food based on the social situation they were in. In particular, meals with coworkers and meals at restaurants were more likely to occasion participants to take a different approach than they would in other social situations. I argue that despite not disclosing their Jewishness in certain situational contexts, the act of keeping kosher itself is still a deeply embedded practice for participants that serves to reinforce their sense of cultural and religious identity.
dc.description.departmentSociology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent64 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationKuntz, N. M. (2020). <i>Jewish American Foodways: The dietary construction of identity</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/13034
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectSociology
dc.subjectFood
dc.subjectEating
dc.subjectIdentity
dc.subjectSituation
dc.subjectJewish
dc.subjectKosher
dc.subject.lcshEating (Philosophy)
dc.subject.lcshFood--Social aspects
dc.subject.lcshJews--Food
dc.titleJewish American Foodways: The Dietary Construction of Identity
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentSociology
thesis.degree.disciplineSociology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

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