Transforming food politics: community to community's intersectional ecofeminism and food sovereignty
Date
2018
Authors
Coopwood, Shelby L., author
Sbicca, Joshua, advisor
Raynolds, Laura, committee member
Kent, Suzanne, committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
This thesis illustrates the advantages of utilizing an intersectional approach to analyzing problems in the food system and the activism of the food movement. This research undertakes the case of Community to Community, a grassroots organization that employs an intersectional analysis in their activism to center the voices and perspectives of women, to support and fight alongside farmworkers, and to take care of the environment. Their work is grounded in ecofeminism, and ultimately strives for food sovereignty. Semi-structured interviews with members of Community to Community were conducted to explore perceptions of their guiding frameworks. Additionally, content analysis and supplemental participant observation was completed to triangulate an understanding of how the organization approaches social justice and social change. Findings reveal that while ecofeminism provides a comprehensive analysis of food system problems, when combined with the transformative politics at the heart of food sovereignty, these frameworks offer a radical intersectional praxis that focuses on transforming social relations in the food system and beyond.