EXPLORING MARRIAGES AND FAMILY, 2 ND EDITION Karen Seccombe © 2015, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 2 Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Class Special Topic: Food Insecurity

Pathways from Poverty to Adverse Child Outcomes Poverty contributes to: –inadequate health and nutrition –lower-quality home environment –parental stress and mental health problems –fewer resources for learning –housing problems –poor-quality neighborhood © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Let’s Investigate Nutrition: Food Availability We know that many people in developing nations do not have enough nourishing food to eat. 882 million people in 2010 consumed less than the nutritional target of 2,100 calories per person per day. The situation is improving in Asia and Latin America, but is getting worse in sub- Saharan Africa. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Food Insecurity “Food insecurity” can be temporary or chronic in developing nations. Common reasons: –War; poverty; population growth; environmental degradation; limited agricultural technology; ineffective policies; disease © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reasons for Food Insecurity in Developing Nations Many low-income countries have difficulty producing enough food and are thus food- insecure at a national level. More common is inequality of food consumption within countries—the result of poverty and broad social inequality. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What About in the U.S.? “Food insecurity” is a serious problem in the U.S. as well. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How are Food Insecurity and Food Security Measured? Survey by Census Bureau and USDA Includes 46,000 households One adult in each household was asked multiple questions about: –being unable, at times, to afford balanced meals –cutting the size of meals because of too little money –being hungry because of too little money © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Secure/Insecure The USDA developed a classification: Food Secure Food Insecure –Low Food Security –Very Low Food Security © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Results Low Food Security -- Reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet because of money. Little or no indication of reduced food intake: –9% of households; 10.6 million people Very Low Food Security -- Multiple indications of disrupted eating and reduced food intake because of money: –5.7% of households; 6.8 million people © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Results Eighty-five percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2009… –Meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Results Food insecurity is a large and growing problem in the United States, and is particularly common among poor and low- income families, single parents, and children. © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Children are particularly vulnerable…. Children in food insecure families experience: –poorer health –more stomach aches, headaches, and colds –higher hospitalization rates –greater iron deficiency anemia –higher number of chronic conditions –more anxiety and depression –lower physical function © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Children are particularly vulnerable…. Children in food insecure families also experience: –more behavioral problems in 3-year-olds –poorer psychosocial functioning in school-age children –greater suicidal symptoms in adolescence –lower math and reading achievement –greater likelihood of getting suspended or repeating a grade © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Programs to Help SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) –formerly called “food stamps” –services 33.5 million low income people each month WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) –serves 9.1 million people monthly who are “nutritional risk” © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Programs to Help National School Lunch Program –serves 31 million children daily School Breakfast Program –serves 11 million children daily Summer Food Service Program –serves 2.2 million children per day in July © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References Nord, M. “Food Insecurity in Households with Children: Prevalence, Severity, and Household Characteristics.” EIB-56. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. September, © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References Nord, M., Coleman-Jensen, A., Andrews, M., and Carlson, S. “Household Food Security in the United States.” ERR-108. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. November, © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References Shapouri, S., Rosen, S., Peters, M., Baquedano, F., and Allen, S. “Food Security Assessment, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. Report Summary. July, USDA and Economic Research Service. “Supplemental Nutrition Program.” Online: January, © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References USDA and Economic Research Service. “The WIC Program.” Online: January, USDA and Economic Research Service. “Food Security in the United States.” Online: rity/ November, © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

References USDA and Economic Research Service. “Child Nutritional Programs.” Online: tion/ October, © 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.