Female Identity, Food, and Power in Contemporary Florence

Abstract

Life histories from contemporary Florentine women reveal that their identity andpower have traditionally been attained and manifested through control overfood provisioning. Furthermore, their ability to manipulate the symbolic content offood has enabled them to influence the behavior and values of theirfamilies. Recent changes in Italian society and economy have brought new role expectationsfor women. They now try to remain theprincipal administrators of home andfamily at the same time they holdfull-time wage-laborjobs. Because oftime and identity conflicts, they can perform neither well. While they are glimpsing the possibility of publicpolitical and economicpower, they are losing their traditional domestic influence over family and children. [women, food, power, Italy, identity]