Details

Purpose: This symposium examines food insecurity across different contexts to inform research, programming, and policy approaches for food security and nutrition equity. Presentations will highlight innovative, primarily qualitative, research featuring emic perspectives of individuals experiencing food insecurity and showcasing “i-poems” that amplify voices of people affected by food insecurity. Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic and widening socioeconomic inequities add urgency to the need to address food insecurity among marginalized communities in high-income countries. Understanding contextual factors related to food access and eating behaviors is essential for creating and implementing solutions. Objectives: This symposium aims to (1) Describe commonalities and distinctions of food insecurity experiences and coping strategies across countries; (2) Highlight gaps and opportunities for improved measurement; and (3) Discuss implications for programming and policy to address food insecurity. Summary: Presentations will integrate theoretical and empirical insights from research capturing first-hand food insecurity experiences in three regions [Australia (AUS), Europe (EU), and USA]. The first presentation (Dean) will provide a foundation for understanding and addressing food insecurity, including consideration of varied sociocultural contexts within EU, alignment with sustainable food system values, and implications for measurement and policy. The second presentation (McClain), based on qualitative interviews with heritage-diverse Latinx caregivers of children in the U.S., will offer insights on the day-to-day challenges of feeding their families in culturally-appropriate ways, varied coping strategies and perspectives on relevant programs, and how these experiences can inform measurement, programming, and policy. The third presentation (Baker) will share findings from a qualitative project in AUS highlighting social and structural barriers to food security and participant-elicited policy solutions for addressing food insecurity holistically. Short (3-minute) i-poems from the AUS project (Gallegos) will be shared at intervals throughout the symposium to provide moving depictions of lived experiences of food insecurity, particularly participant experiences of social and financial shocks in childhood and adulthood, alongside descriptions of overcoming adversity and the sacrifices they are making to enable their children to have opportunities.

Format:

Introductions and presentations (Chair- Dickin): Introduces the symposium (5 minutes) and each presenter (~10 to 12 minutes each x 3 = 30 to 36 minutes), allowing a two-minute transition between presenters.

I-poems (Gallegos): Shares i-poems before, in between, and after each presentation (4 total, 12 minutes).

Discussion (Discussant- Johnson): Facilitates engaging, interactive discussion and invites questions from attendees (20 to 25 minutes).

Interaction: In-person symposium; Chair (Dickin) moderates interactions with remote attendees and includes their questions during discussion.

Speaker