Childhood
Volume 26, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 540-553

Social class and children’s food practices in Mexican migrant households (Article)

Dreby J.* , Tuñón-Pablos E. , Lacy G.
  • a University at Albany, State University of New York, United States
  • b El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Mexico
  • c University at Albany, State University of New York, United States

Abstract

This article uses qualitative data from children and parents to explore how children’s food practices in Mexican migrant households vary by social class in the United States. Irrespective of social class, children and parents expressed similar values associated with Mexican food, perceptions of unhealthy “American” diets, and difficulties in incorporating Mexican food practices into their diets. However, we show parents in working-class families to exert less control over children’s food practices than those in middle-class families. Experiences of families whose social class changed with migration suggest that resources and social class identity post-migration likely shape children’s food practices. © The Author(s) 2019.

Author Keywords

Migration class Children diet Mexico

Index Keywords

controlled study diet household social class Mexico Article human migrant Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85062470163&doi=10.1177%2f0907568219832640&partnerID=40&md5=79c192ecb2b11a22126c4618b3c1c206
DOI: 10.1177/0907568219832640
ISSN: 09075682
Original Language: English