The Meaning of Cooking and Recipe Work for Older Thai and New Zealand Women

The interconnected meanings of occupation: The call, being‐with, possibilities

“…In contrast to Laliberte Rudman et al' s (1996) study, which identified that the meaning of mundane occupations is diminished, the cooking and recipe work undertaken by older Thai and New Zealand women for Songkran and Christmas has been found to hold rich meanings (Hocking et al, 2002). For the Thai women in particular, the food itself held meanings "related to the physical shape of the food or the way that the ingredients blend together" (p. 120), imparting a long life and unity on those who share the food, wrapping them into a network of family, friendship and spiritual relationships.…”

“…Within occupational science, only a few have taken up the challenge of researching the meaning of occupation, namely Hannam (1997), Hocking, Wright-St Clair and Bunrayong (2002), Howell and Pierce (2000), Hull Garci and Mandich (2005), Leufstadis, Erlandsson, Bjorkman and Ekland (2008), Scheerer, Cahill, Kirby and Lane (2004), Shordike and Pierce (2005), and Wright-St Clair, Bunrayong, Vittayakorn, Rattakorn and Hocking (2004). Those studies reveal particular instances of meaning and show that occupations hold rich meanings for the individuals engaging in them, yet do not reveal the kinds of meaning occupation holds, nor what those meanings are in relation to.…”

The Meaning of Everyday Meals in Living Units for Older People

“…Participation in meal-centred occupations is addressed in two other studies (Bundgaard & Christensen, 1999;Sidenvall, Nydahl & Fjellström, 2001) which found they had value in providing physical exercise and giving older people something to do. Being involved in and doing these activities in a specific way, as mentioned by Alma, has previously been identified to be part of women's identity (Bundgaard & Christensen, 1999;Hocking, Wright-St Clair & Bunrayong, 2002). This study shows that frail older people living in nursing homes experience many similar meanings to older people living at home.…”

“The Family Knot”: Negotiating Identities and Cultural Values through the Everyday Occupations of an Immigrant Family in Sweden

“…Her story is also about coming to terms with this schism between the 'hidden' identities associated with being Chilean and the identities associated with being Swedish. Using food as a vehicle L IS E T T E FA R I A S & E R IC A S A BA through which to transmit values from parents to children, Nicole's stories and actions are often food-centered and embedded in various extended family events (Bundgaard, 2005;Hannam, 1997;Hocking, Wright-St Clair, & Bunrayong, 2002). According to Hocking et al (2002), within each culture, specific food becomes associated with traditions and rites of passage.…”