Introducing the idea of ‘assumed shared food narratives’ in the context of social networks: reflections from a qualitative study conducted in Nottingham, England

TY - JOUR

T1 - Introducing the idea of ‘assumed shared food narratives’ in the context of social networks

T2 - Sociology of Health and Illness

AU - Bissell, Paul

AU - Peacock, Marian

AU - Holdsworth, Michelle

AU - Powell, Katie

AU - Wilcox, John

AU - Clonan, Angie

N1 - This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Bissell, P. , Peacock, M. , Holdsworth, M. , Powell, K. , Wilcox, J. and Clonan, A. (2018), Introducing the idea of ‘assumed shared food narratives’ in the context of social networks: reflections from a qualitative study conducted in Nottingham, England. Sociol Health Illn. . doi:10.1111/1467-9566.12746, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12746. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - This study explores the ways in which social networks might shape accounts about food practices. Drawing on insights from the work of Christakis and Fowler (2007) whose claims about the linkages between obesity and social networks have been the subject of vigorous debate in the sociological literature, we present qualitative data from a study of women's’ accounts of social networks and food practices, conducted in Nottingham, England. We tentatively suggest that whilst social networks, in their broadest sense, might shape what was perceived to be normal and acceptable in relation to food practices (and provide everyday discursive resources which normalise practice), the relationship between the two is more complex than the linear relationship proposed by Christakis and Fowler. Here, we introduce the idea of assumed shared food narratives (ASFNs), which, we propose, sheds light on motive talk about food practices, and which also provide practical and discursive resources to actors seeking to protect and defend against ‘untoward’ behaviour, in the context of public health messages around food and eating. We suggest that understanding ASFNs and the ways in which they are embedded in social networks represents a novel way of understanding food and eating practices from a sociological perspective.

AB - This study explores the ways in which social networks might shape accounts about food practices. Drawing on insights from the work of Christakis and Fowler (2007) whose claims about the linkages between obesity and social networks have been the subject of vigorous debate in the sociological literature, we present qualitative data from a study of women's’ accounts of social networks and food practices, conducted in Nottingham, England. We tentatively suggest that whilst social networks, in their broadest sense, might shape what was perceived to be normal and acceptable in relation to food practices (and provide everyday discursive resources which normalise practice), the relationship between the two is more complex than the linear relationship proposed by Christakis and Fowler. Here, we introduce the idea of assumed shared food narratives (ASFNs), which, we propose, sheds light on motive talk about food practices, and which also provide practical and discursive resources to actors seeking to protect and defend against ‘untoward’ behaviour, in the context of public health messages around food and eating. We suggest that understanding ASFNs and the ways in which they are embedded in social networks represents a novel way of understanding food and eating practices from a sociological perspective.

KW - Obesity

KW - Assumed shared food narratives

KW - Biographical interviews

KW - Maternal feeding

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053033148&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1467-9566.12746

DO - 10.1111/1467-9566.12746

M3 - Article

VL - 40

SP - 1142

EP - 1155

JO - Sociology of Health and Illness

JF - Sociology of Health and Illness

SN - 0141-9889

IS - 7

ER -