Summary of the Joseph’s Feeding an Identity- Gender, Food, and Survival

Jonathan Lung

Summary of the Joseph’s Feeding an Identity- Gender, Food, and Survival

            Norma Baumel Joseph begins with the comparison of food to cultural identity through the example of Jewish traditions. Throughout history of Judaism, many of its tradition stems from the idea of eating. Most notably are like Passover where “[f]ood is central, not a incidental or supportive element” (7), and much of these tradition goes back to the notion of celebrating after their survival or success. The celebration of food even goes as far as “[replacing] sacrificial altars with shulhan arukh, the set table and the eating fellowship” (7). Food has been engrained in our lives that it surrounds us in many parts of lives as many social, business, and ritual gatherings all somehow connect back with food. Food establishes relationship in a professional or intimate way. However, history failed to recognize to people who make our food consistently throughout time: women. Much of history has forgotten the role of the housekeeper, almost always the women, as they must continuously feed the family even through holidays when the food is even more important. Historically, women were neglected and rarely seen as their main roles of child bearer, housekeeper, and cook dominated much of their time and freedom in their life. Much of our knowledge of the tradition of food in the Jewish culture has stemmed from laws and rabbis but none directed back to the women who cooked them, a problem that the feminist wants to change. With times changing, researchers are digging up more and more of our past and uncovering the hidden role of women and their dedication in the kitchen. With food so intertwine with our lives, the credits must be given to the women of the time to continue on the tradition that still exist today such as Passover. Like Joseph said, “[Food} is the most basic of human requirements, and it has been the most sanctified. It carries the weight of tradition, the nostalgia of the past, and the challenge of the future” (13). Of course, we cannot continue to talk about food without talking the people who is behind making it: the women. To sum up the power of food and women, Joseph ends with “Preparing and serving food is the domain of women, the site of their limitation, and/or the source of their power” (13).