Food itineraries and gender inequalities in Spain: Managing meals among older people in times of crisis

This study examines the ways in which older people in Spain manage their daily meals, considering gender differences and the impact of increasing precarization. The main objective is to shed light on whether these two issues are at the root of certain forms of food insecurity among people with fewer resources, particularly women. We show that tasks related to the provision, preparation, distribution, and consumption of food foster both interactions and gender asymmetries, and although these may change over time depending on life circumstances, they are adopted by people according to the norms and expectations regarding the sexual division of labor and the assignment of responsibilities. We conclude that in contexts of precarization, having been or being the person responsible for family food provision places women and men in an unequal position in terms of access to sufficient and healthy food.