Eating at the table, on the couch and in bed: An exploration of different locus of commensality in the discourses of Brazilian working mothers

Autor(es)

Scagliusi, Fernanda Baeza ^[1] ; Pereira, Patricia da Rocha ^[2] ; Unsain, Ramiro Fernandez ^[3] ; Sato, Priscila de Morais ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Ave Dr Arnaldo 715, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Renascenca Hosp & Matern, Rua Pedro Fioreti 480, BR-06013080 Osasco, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Hlth & Soc, Campus Baixada Santista, Rua Silva Jardim, 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: APPETITE; v. 103, p. 80-86, AUG 1 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Background: Commensality is a remarkable human act, and tends to be more present among families. Nevertheless, it is possible that eating at the table is being taking for granted when one refers to family meals. Thus, this paper aims to analyze working mothers' discourses about family meals eaten at the table, on the couch and in the bed/bedroom. Methods: The participants were thirty mothers working in public universities of the Brazilian region called Baixada Santista. A qualitative study was conducted, using semi-structured interviews. In the transcripts the words ``table{''}, ``couch{''}, ``bed{''}, ``bedroom{''} were located and the excerpts containing them were extracted and analyzed according to a classical and exploratory content analysis. Results: The table is a significant component of meals that unite the family. While for some the meal at the table is an enjoyable moment, it is a stiff moment for others. Indeed, manners and the notion of hierarchy appeared only for the table. Regarding the couch, it seems that the family chose to eat there, because it is a more casual and relaxed setting. Eating in the bed was related to precarity, intimacy and casualness. In the three settings, watching television was a common practice, replacing or being added to talking. Conclusions: Commensality is such an important practice that appears in different settings and even in precarity contexts. The table emerged as the maximal cornerstone of commensality. However, when it was not present, new arrangements were made. Especially the couch seems to be a new commensal space, less formal and rigid, but able to allow some collective conviviality. Eating in the bed was a less common practice. Finally, the significant role that television assumed in meals is highlighted, (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/12235-8 - A barriga erótica: intersecções entre saúde, gêneros, alimentações e sexualidades na comunidade homossexual de ursos da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil
• Beneficiário: Ramiro Andres Fernandez Unsain
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado