Children's Gender‐ and Ethnicity‐based Reasoning about Foods

Abstract

This article reports two studies that investigated the ways in which children use gender and ethnicity for making judgments about food choice. In Study 1, White and Asian 5-to 10-year-olds (M = 7.37) were asked to rate how much they and others would like novel non-stereotyped foods. White children inferred that girls and White others would like the foods more than boys and Asian others would. An 'ethnocentric' pattern was found where children inferred that ethnic in-group others' food-liking would be more similar to their own compared with ethnic out-group others. These patterns were replicated with adults. In Study 2, a larger range of foods was used to assess White, Black, and Asian 3-to 8-year-olds (M = 5.63), followed by gender and ethnic categorization and constancy tasks. Children from five to six years used ethnicity-based reasoning, which was influenced by their ability to categorize themselves and others by ethnicity. The role of social categories in food choice is discussed in the light of theories and research in category-based reasoning.

A Lifespan Model of Ethnic-Racial Identity

“…Another aspect of ERI affiliation that has been included in existing theory and tested empirically is constancy (i.e., understanding that ethnicity/race does not change; Bernal et al, 1990); however, this construct warrants further careful future investigation. Scholars posited previously that all children would demonstrate constancy by 8 years (Aboud, 1988), but it seems that in early childhood, few children have constancy, although it increases toward the end of this period for some (e.g., Lam & Leman, 2009;Pauker et al, 2010). For example, in one study only about half (i.e., 57%) of Mexican and Dominican American A LIFESPAN MODEL OF ETHNIC-RACIAL IDENTITY preschool and kindergarten children demonstrated ethnic-racial constancy (Serrano-Villar & Calzada, 2016).…”

“…The majority of children in middle childhood are able to accurately self-label (Akiba et al, 2004;Rogers & Meltzoff, 2017;Rogers et al, 2012). In terms of ethnic-racial constancy, most researchers assume that constancy is fully established in this period, but there are no studies in which more than 85% of children under age 11 demonstrate constancy (e.g., Bernal et al, 1990;Lam & Leman, 2009;Semaj, 1980;Serrano-Villar & Calzada, 2016). It is likely that children's negotiation of labels and constancy is directly related to their attitudes in this period and later during adolescence.…”

Self-reported knowledge, attitude and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among undergraduate oral health students at a university in South Africa

“…[ 13 ] Studies have shown that gender differences in food preferences appear to begin during childhood. [ 14 ] There has been no specific reasons behind gendered preferences and practices are not easily understood due to social and cultural differences among groups and individuals. It is however argued that it might be due to earlier involvement of females in food activities as compared to males and therefore females tend to be more aware and careful of what and how they eat and drink.…”

Peer influence on adolescent snacking

“…Age and gender are two important factors reflected in children's novel food choices (Lam and Leman, 2009). In relation to age, younger adolescents will consume more meals at home with their family.…”