Abstract

GIL-ROMO, Sara Elena Pérez  and  CORIA, Silvia Díez-Urdanivia. Food and nutrition studies in Mexico: a gender perspective. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2007, vol.49, n.6, pp.445-453. ISSN 0036-3634.

The present paper reflects on utilization of the gender category in food and nutrition studies in Mexico. It highlights women’s important role as caretakers of family health and nutrition. Briefly the authors review how women have been analysed in the different food an nutrition surveys; how gender has been effaced in the "mean per capita", and how women have been taken into account only as far as their reproductive role. This paper also outlines the importance of including the gender category and gender approach in food and nutrition studies; in order to clearly visualize the feeding inequities among men and women throughout the stages of the feeding process, i.e. decision, provision, preparation, distribution and intake. Moreover, improved understanding of women’s nutrition practices and meanings that foods convey to women is advocated. In the conclusion the absolute need to articulate the gender issue in nutrition, nursing and medical academic curricula is stated.

Keywords : gender; sex; feeding; nutrition; Mexico.