Contradictions between wanting to and being able to practice food shopping: the experiences of 'vulnerable' young people in the North East of Scotland.

Gombert, Karolina; Douglas, Flora; Carlisle, Sandra; McArdle, Karen

Abstract

In the context of the rise in numbers of people affected by food poverty in the UK, the Foodways and Futures (2013-2016) project explores the ways in which vulnerable young people (16-25) experience their relationship to food. In my data analysis, the experience of shopping for food emerged as a particularly pertinent issue for young people, although this remains largely unexplored in the literature. I found that, among other issues, food shopping is not necessarily an enjoyable experience for vulnerable young people, some of whom are anxious about entering food shops and engage in hurried shopping practices. Decision-making was based on budget restrictions as well as the immediate experience of hunger. As a result, food shopping was often rapid and reactive. This vulnerable group of food shoppers do not necessarily purchase the cheapest items, as these may be seen as degrading to self-esteem. Young people also faced physical obstacles of distances to the (larger) shops and the weight of their food shopping.

Citation

GOMBERT, K., DOUGLAS, F., CARLISLE, S. and MCARDLE, K. 2017. Contradictions between wanting to and being able to practice food shopping: the experiences of 'vulnerable' young people in the North East of Scotland. Global journal of human-social science: H interdisciplinary [online], 17(6). Available from: https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/2378/2267

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 2, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 3, 2021
• Journal: Global journal of human-social science: H interdisciplinary
• Print ISSN: 0975-587X
• Electronic ISSN: 2249-460X
• Publisher: Global Journals
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 6
• Keywords: Food choices; Young people; Vulnerable groups; Shopping behaviour; Shopping experience; Decision making
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1240126
• Publisher URL: https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/2378