Journal article

Authors list: Diewald, Tobias; Yildiz, Juliane; Wahlen, Stefan

Publication year: 2025

Pages: 670-684

Journal: Food, Culture & Society

Volume number: 28

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 1552-8014

eISSN: 1751-7443

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2329431

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 
Food and eating habits contribute to gender differentiation. This article aims to empirically explore gender and food-related socialization of transgender individuals. We contemplate food and gender socialization of transgender individuals as an ongoing, productive process across the life course. To investigate food habits of transgender individuals four biographical interviews were conducted with trans persons. The empirical results show that trans persons orient themselves toward the social ideas concerning their lived gender. During primary socialization through the family, the sex assigned at birth initially manifests itself in the adaptation of socially normed sets of rules regarding gender and eating habits. During the transition to the opposite gender, food serves as a means of creating a gendered body that corresponds to the social ideals of a female or male body. Accordingly, food is a means of expressing conformity to societal ideas of gender. With our first insights we explore possible avenues for future research into transgender food cultures. For example, the congruence of inner and outer reality, but also the role of the body in food habits might need more attention. In addition, further food research could consider non-binary gender paradoxes.

Harvard Citation style: Diewald, T., Yildiz, J. and Wahlen, S. (2025) Exploring transgender transition and food socialization, Food, Culture & Society, 28(3), pp. 670-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2329431

APA Citation style: Diewald, T., Yildiz, J., & Wahlen, S. (2025). Exploring transgender transition and food socialization. Food, Culture & Society. 28(3), 670-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2329431