Scholars Day: April 11, 2012

Feeding the Celiac Family: Medically-Restricted Diets & Gendered Feeding Work

Based on 15 in-depth interviews, this paper examines gendered feeding work in families in which at least one member is diagnosed with celiac disease and must follow a gluten-free diet. Feeding work is often invisible, and includes the interrelated tasks of meal planning and procuring and preparing foodstuffs. Celiac disease brings the invisible and gendered work of feeding a family into sharp focus. To avoid contamination with gluten, those who perform feeding work must be knowledgeable about the foods they serve, including harvesting and processing techniques used. Women claim that feeding work is shared between women and men, but further analysis reveals that women regularly do most or all feeding work. Most women are hesitant or unwilling to cook exclusively gluten-free for their entire family. Instead, they cook hybrid meals with both glutenous and gluten-free options. This double-cooking ensures a 'normal' experience for dependents with and without celiac disease.

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