HIS 328: Gendered Foodways of the Atlantic World

Goal: This course examines the cross-cultural foodways of the Atlantic through a gendered lens from the eighteenth century to the present day. Ways of preparing and consuming food affirm bonds of kinship and community therefore we will not only focus on what people ate, but gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and social significance of the meaning surrounding the food.
Content: The study of foodways is a central approach to understanding issues of race and ethnic identity, gender economy, and many more subfields of history. In the first half of the class, we will focus mainly on the gendered roles of food cultivation and preparation and how these roles changed as groups and foods navigated the Atlantic. During the second half of the class, we will pay attention to how food can be used to control and claim gender, racial, regional, and national identity. Will the old adage “you are what you eat” stand up to our historical study?
Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory completion of the College writing proficiency requirement or permission of the instructor.
Credit: 3
Degree Level: Undergraduate