Food insecurity is a global health issue that leads to detrimental effects to physical and mental health. This study looks closely at the barriers people experience in obtaining reliable and nutritious food, as well as the prevalence of chronic illnesses among families that experience food insecurity. This study was conducted at a local food pantry in Oxford where observations of behaviors and attitudes of customers and volunteers were made. Months of observations revealed predominant patterns of cultural blame and stigma associated with the use of food assistance programs in the United States. This research seeks to identify the effects that blame, and stigma have on food insecure families. The neoliberal narrative was found to be a prominent influence perpetuating the cultural blame and stigma directed towards families that use food assistance programs. A discussion about how neoliberal ideologies have permeated institutions and propagated structural violence is explored. Results of this study revealed that structural violence present in community settings increased the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as substance use disorders, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Suggestions are made to improve food insecurity status in the United States by minimizing blame and stigma present in institutions. Learning about these specific barriers to food security in the United States has informed me about what can be done to change current programs and interventions to become more accessible, effective, and useful to families that experience food insecurity. I hope to use my acquired understanding of the population that experiences food insecurity in the United States to improve the nutrition programs and change institutional structures that further stigmatize people in need of food assistance.
Author: Magda Odrowaz
Advisors: Cameron Hay-Rollins Ph.D., Anthropology Paul Flaspohler Ph.D., Psychology
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