Maternal foodwork e biopolitica dell'alimentazione infantile

Within the neoliberal framework, the intersection among cultural conditioning about risk, consumption and socialization of the future “good citizens” produces a strong pressure on parenthood. The gendered family duty balancing targets such pressure especially toward mothers, as the main responsible for children’s protection and integration. In this frame, foodwork becomes a powerful control device applied for assessing maternal skills. In the article we analyse the narratives of a group of mothers who choose non-conforming food practices for their sons. Throughout interviews with veg* mothers, we explore the symbolical frameworks, practices and discursive strategies they apply in order to negotiate or question the mainstream dietary norms. Moreover, we give particular attention to the relation with the normative purpose of the institutions which intervene, with different extents of interference, in evaluating the adequacy of these habits.