Family Hospitality and Ethnic Tradition Among South Asian, Italian and General Population Women in the West of Scotland

Abstract

South Asians have a high risk of heart disease in Britain andItalians low, and there are corresponding differences in total energy and total fat intake. The present paper explores how far obligatory patterns of food intake exist in either group and are reflected in conventions of hospitality. Both groups are from peasant-based economies, where, despite the common pattern of low fat intake, food occupies a high proportion of family income, and is correspondingly important as a part of gift exchange in marriage, and as a bearer of collective meanings. Open-ended questions on meals suitable for family hospitality were asked of South Asian women (63 born abroad, 56 in Britain), and Italian women (39 abroad, 51 in Britain) together with 50 women from the general population, all aged 20-40 and resident in the West of Scotland urban area. The traditional family meal of the Glasgow general population corresponds to the cooked dinner described in South Wales, and suggests a panBritish cultural symbol. However traditional family hospitality meals play a more important part in the life of migrant South Asians and Italians than they do in the majority culture, and British-born South Asians maintain this pattern more than British-born Italians. This pattern of hospitality, in an economy where energy-dense foods are readily available, may result in high energy intake and increased coronary risk. However realisation of these implications, and increased weight consciousness, can lead to restoration of the traditional cardioprotective diet.

Social and cultural influences on tobacco-related health disparities among South Asians in the USA

“…Despite these considerations, a paucity of research exists regarding the influence of ethnic identity on culturally specific tobacco use. Preservation of cultural attributes has been shown to be a key influence on other health-related behaviours, suggesting that similar processes might occur for tobacco use 28 29…”

Meanings of food, eating and health in Punjabi families living in Vancouver, Canada

“…Findings have highlighted use of, preferences for and beliefs about traditional South Asian foods compared to 'western' foods [17][18][19][20] , as well as the cultural significance of foods for entertaining and celebrations 21,22 . Much of this research has been conducted in Britain and has examined food practices from the perspective of individuals rather than within family contexts.…”

An exploration of dietary practices among South Indians in Brisbane, Australia

“…Commensality, which marks sharing and unity by the act of eating together, is common in many cultural contexts, and serves as a means to transmit cultural values through food (Counihan, 2004). Food sharing and hospitality within migrant communities has been described in many cultural contexts such as among Italian-Americans (Diner, 2003), Iranians in the United Kingdom (Harbottle, 2000), South Asians in many parts of the world (Bush, Williams, Bradby, Anderson, & Lean, 1998;Chapman et al, 2011;Ray, 2004) and Ghanaians in London (Tuomainen, 2014).…”