Date of Award

1-1-2020

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Latin American, Caribbean and U.S. Latino Studies

Program

Spanish

Content Description

1 online resource (vi, 195 pages) : illustrations (some color), maps.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Dr. Pedro Caban

Committee Members

Dr. Christine Vassallo-Oby, Dr. Kate Paarlberg-Kvam

Keywords

Community, Everyday, Food Insecurity, Food Justice, Latinx, Resistance, Hispanic Americans, Food security, Community-supported agriculture, Community organization, Right to food

Subject Categories

Environmental Law | Ethnic Studies | Sociology

Abstract

Low-income racialized communities have always disproportionately struggled with food system inequities. However, after the 2008 financial crisis, conditions have become more precarious, especially in Latinx communities. This context has resulted in intensified food system inequities, manifesting as food insecurity, high food pricing, inconsistent and partial food programming, diet related diseases, low wages, worker and environmental rights abuses. This dissertation examines how low-income Latinx communities, respond to these intensified inequities in the New York State Capital Region from 2008-2018. Through qualitative research, interviews and observations, I assess the nature and context of everyday practices that undermine or resist food system inequities, efforts that promote Food Justice. I seek to identify and examine the varied repertoire of practices in play to deepen our understanding of Latinx resistance under austerity. I argue everyday forms of Latinx resistance are uniquely equipped to address food system inequities because of the sociocultural and historical legacy and firsthand accounts connected to land, farmworkers, food production. Moreover, that Latinxs are not just producers or consumers but active agents within attempts to resist food system inequities and achieve food justice. My work provides a sociocultural and economic analysis to how low-income Latinx individuals and communities under austerity promote food justice through every acts of resistance.

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