Gender Roles in the Familial Food Practices of Rural Women University Students

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes how gender roles and family environment shape and define the eating habits of university women from rural areas in southern Veracruz, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and virtual food diaries administered to ten students, transformations were identified in both eating habits and the perception of household chores. The findings reveal that, contrary to what has been documented in previous studies, the family continues to exert a determining influence on food selection, preparation, and consumption, as well as on the preference for sharing meals within the household. Furthermore, participants expressed a growing awareness of the need to equitably redistribute household chores, challenging traditional gender stereotypes. A transition toward healthier eating patterns was also observed, characterized by an increase in the consumption of fresh produce and a reduction in ultra-processed foods, changes that persisted after the lockdown. This work highlights a social group that has been rarely addressed in research and provides evidence for the design of public policies aimed at promoting gender equity, food security, and comprehensive well-being in rural contexts.