Gender Perspectives on Healthy Food Systems in Argentina: consumer behavior, community access and advertisement

The objective of the session is to present the results of 4 recent studies carried out in Argentina in relation to Nutrition and Gender. In the study of CEDES "Gender Dimension and Nutritional Patterns on Healthy Food Demands in Argentina. What can we learn from the Analysis of Household Survey?" We analyze how and to what extent household surveys’ analysis constitutes a valuable instrument to shed light to the possible gender differences in food demand decisions in Argentina, based on the analysis of consumption patterns and estimates of demand elasticities. The second study, "Gender stereotypes in graphic advertising through promotional brochures in the main supermarket chains in Argentina", carried out by IECS, explores the construction and reproduction of gender stereotypes present in graphic advertising through promotional brochures in the main supermarket chains in Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina. After, "Food affordability and accessibility in poor neighborhoods: the role of women and the community environment " is a qualitative cross-sectional study of FIC. This research showed the relevance of women as a political actor in their communities and also the interdependence of community environments and household environments. Women have a central role in developing social networks inside the communities. COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of community networks in food access. Finally, the joint study prepared by CEDES, FIC and IECS present a literature review of "Gender inequalities in food access, affordability and consumption".

 

Moderator/organisers:
Daniel Maceira, Center for the Study of State and Society (CEDES), Argentina

 

Daniel Maceira, Center for the Study of State and Society (CEDES), Argentina

Gender perspectives on healthy food systems in Argentina: consumer behavior, community access and advertisement
Introduction
During the last 20 years Latin America has reached remarkable achievements in reducing serious undernourishment problems. However, challenges related to malnutrition-such as overweight and obesity-have steadily increased, both in children and adult population groups. In addition, the distribution of health outcomes within a society, according to income levels and gender, reveals the existence of persistent inequalities, which must be measured in order to adapt and evaluate ongoing policies and interventions aimed at greater equality.
Goal and methodology
The objective of this study is to analyze how and in what extent household surveys’ analysis constitutes a valuable instrument to shed light to the possible gender differences in food demand decisions in Argentina, based on the analysis of consumption patterns and estimates of demand elasticities(how responsive demand is facing changes in prices).A descriptive and econometrical analysis of expenditure data was performed using the National Household Expenditure Survey 2012-2013, which was complemented with nutritional data of each food item provided by local and regional sources of information. Results: As a result of our estimates, we find that the gender of the head of household does not seem to be relevant when the total sample of households is considered. However, gender differences arise across nutritional food quality levels-both in food budget allocation and demand own price elasticity-, when the sample is restricted to single-member households. In that scenario, women living alone appear to allocate a greater percentage of their food budget to the healthier alternatives, in comparison to men living alone. Moreover, we inspect the role that the participation of women in the labor market have in the nutritional dimension of food demand, using the subsample of nuclear-with-children households, and we find that the more time women spend working for the market, in relation to their male partner belonging to the same household, the demand for processed and ultra-processed foods increases, with lower nutritional quality. This trend is more pronounced in households with higher incomes.
Conclusions
A possible explanation behind the results in single-member households is the differential valuation that women have towards healthier foods. In turn, while their demand is more sensitive to relative price changes, men exhibit less elastic demand to price changes, perhaps explained by less information or by the assessment of other factors, such as the reduction in time spent on the purchase. On the other hand, in multi-person households with children, the less time available for household work by women leads to the purchase of food that requires less preparation and cooking time, even if men spend less time relative to work for the market and have more time at home, triggering important policy recommendations about food market adaptation to gender perspectives.

 

Vilma Irazola, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Argentina

Gender stereotypes in graphic advertising through promotional brochures in the main supermarket chains in Argentina
Background
Talking about gender equity requires facing stereotypes counterproductive, often perpetuated through publicity. The objective of the study was to explore the construction and reproduction of gender stereotypes present in graphic advertising through promotional brochures in the main supermarket chains in Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina.
Methods
A qualitative methodology was developed, using documentary analysis and intentional sampling. Promotional brochures were gathered from 8 supermarket chains of the CABA, along three consecutive months (960 pages). Results: The findings of this study indicate that there are noticeable gender stereotypes in print advertisements (brochures), where women were represented in passive and traditional roles as mother-caregiver and housewife, a trend which was also seen in advertisements aimed at children. Representation of men included differential activities and more active roles. Representations related to the woman mother, caregiver and housewife and the traditional family model regarding food aspects were observed.
Conclusions
It is concluded that there are sexist gender stereotypes in graphic advertising through promotional brochures, without any positive evolution towards other gender patterns, inclusion and diversity.

 

Luciana Castronuovo, InterAmerican Heart Foundation Argentina (FIC), Argentina

Food affordability and accessibility in poor neighbourhoods: the role of women and the community environment 
Introduction
Poor households face relevant challenges in their access to healthy foods. The affordability and availability of food occurs in a context of scarcity which affects purchasing practices and food choices. The eating behavior of households in poor neighborhoods is conditioned by their community food environment. Women remain gatekeepers of the family diet and food purchasing and have also a central role in their communities.
Methods
Qualitative cross-sectional design. We interviewed 23 women from poor households from the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Interviews were conducted before and after the start of the COVID-19pandemic in Argentina. For data analysis, grounded theory was used. Results: Informal networks that allow access to different networks are an important household resource. In this sense, social capital is recognized as a relevant resource for poor families in terms of food access. Different buying patterns and strategies were identified. “Child buffering” was a usual practice in households. The frequency of buying and the possibility of getting better prices depends mainly on the resources available. The research showed the relevance of women as a political actor in their communities and also the interdependence of community environments and household environments. Women have a central role in developing social networks inside the communities. COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of community networks in food access.
Conclusions
The community environment led by women, encompassing soup kitchens, informal networks, and community resources, was considered crucial to understand food access and the food environment in poor neighborhoods.

 

Joint summary

Gender inequalities in food access, affordability and consumption
Introduction
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is a major contribution of the global burden of chronic disease. Many regions in the world are affected by a triple burden of malnutrition, determined by undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency and overweight and obesity. This complex scenario also encompasses gender inequalities that should be considered in policy design.
Methods
We reviewed 42 scientific articles dealing with different dimensions of food security and nutrition: food access (n=7), food consumption (n=25) and food availability (n=5) across all countries. We find that gender inequalities are identified in the three dimensions. Results: Our review showed that: a) there is a consensus on the evidence about a relationship between female headship and food insecurity in households; b) women's diets are impaired in comparison to other members of the household c) women are the ones that manage the food and assume the provisioning, organization and elaboration of food inside households; d) there are marked differences between genders regarding the perceptions related to the characteristics of supermarkets and consumers behaviors.
Conclusions
The evidence found shows the need to include a gender perspective in the design of policies aimed to reduce the current trends of overweight and obesity