Gender, sexuality, and food access: An exploration of food security with LGBTQIA2S+ university students

Eli Lumens, Mary Beckie and Fay Fletcher

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2024, vol. 13, issue 2

Abstract: Although research has been limited to date, food insecurity in the United States has been shown to be more pervasive among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, agender, asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) commu­nity, affecting millions annually. College and uni­versity students also experience statistically signifi­cantly higher rates of food insecurity than nonstudents. This research examines food insecu­rity at the intersection of the LGBTQIA2S+ com­munity and the university and college student pop­ulation, as told by the community itself. A qualitative, participatory approach and methods of Photovoice and semi-structured interviews with eight self-identified LGBTQIA2S+ university stu­dents studying at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) were used to explore the factors influencing participants’ food access. Data were analyzed using thematic decomposition analy­sis guided by intersectionality and queer theories. LGBTQIA2S+ identities were found to signifi­cantly impact food access, which was further influ­enced by physical, socio-cultural, and political envi­ronments. Barriers to food access include experiences with discrimination on and off cam­pus, poor support systems, a lack of full-selection grocery stores on or near campus, religious influ­ences, the stigma associated with needing food assistance, mental and physical health conditions, financial constraints, time limitations, and lacking transportation options. Understanding the intersec­tionality of LGBTQIA2S+ students’ experiences and providing relevant and effective support is needed to improve equitable access to nutritious and affordable foods. The findings of this research provide novel insights into food insecurity, an issue that is increasingly influencing the health and well-being of LGBTQIA2S+ university students.

Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/362859/files/1192.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:joafsc:362859

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development from Center for Transformative Action, Cornell University
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().