Members: Fuentes, Santiago, Ticman, Toreja, Uy
Section: G
INTRODUCTION
Section: G
SOCIAL CLASS AND FOOD PREFERENCE
INTRODUCTION
Evidently, food is an important aspect of
our social life. We eat whenever we hang out with friends, hold family
gatherings, or do business meetings. With a wide array of food choices provided
by restaurants and food establishments, it's interesting to see why people
choose the food that they eat. More specifically for our paper, we will
be focusing on figuring out whether their social classes influence their food
consumption or choices. The common stereotype is for the lower class to base their
food choices on quantity and price, factors that would maximize their utility
given their budget. On the other hand, the common notion for the upper class is
that their preferences tend to be based on the quality and presentation of food
that's paired with good ambiance. These raise the question on whether a
person's social standing in society truly limits their access or choices of
food. And to confirm or disprove these stereotypes, our visits to UP and the
Fort ensure that we got to interview people from all social classes and get
their point of view---from different establishments ranging from the humble
isaw stands to posh establishments like Gelatissimo.
REVIEW ON RELATED LITERATURE
Food and Cultural Studies contained
researches made by different sociologists, which helped give support to
the group’s research findings. More specifically, the work of
sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu, focused on the different consumer
lifestyles among all of the social classes. He states that the
experiences of different social classes predisposes them to consume
differently; thus, helping them distinguish between what is, and isn’t,
their kind of thing. (Ashley, Hollows, Jones & Taylor, 2005, p. 64)
The different factors that affect a person’s decision are not only
based on their economic standing and consumption practices, but in
reality, goes beyond it and is also influenced by the culture of the
social class that one is in. A person who is from the lower class, for
example, has a different view towards food as compared to the
bourgeoisie who is not concerned with the satisfactions of eating, but
instead more concerned with the style, presentation and aesthetic
qualities of foods. (Ashley, Hollows, Jones, and Taylor 2005, p.65)
With the different lifestyles that each social class is living, it is
not surprising that food has become an avenue for self-expression to
showcase the extent of one’s resources. The very purpose of food has
slowly changed from something basic and biological into something that
defines each social class.
Martin N. Marger’s book, Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes,
talks about how social inequality greatly influences how people think,
act, and decide. Just like social classes, it is also determined by a
number of external factors, specifically, structural forces of the
society and even global structural forces. Each person is rewarded with
different amounts of resources; thus, causing a system of
stratification. (Marger, 2002, p.11) Most people have this mentality
that each social class shares only similar income, but in reality, they
also share similar lifestyles. From the type of music, fashion, cuisine,
and even as far as type of decoration, no two social classes behave in
the same way. In a way, social inequality can give us deeper insights
regarding people’s behaviors. (Marger, 2002, p.26)
Based
on a study conducted by economist Juliet Schor, people acquired their
spending habits from both the people around them and through the various
forms of media. This creates a sense of insecurity in people that makes
them compare their lifestyle with those who are above them in the
economic hierarchy. (Marger, 2002, p.110) This wasn’t the case before
because most people used to just compare their status with those of
their neighbors’. What is surprising in her findings was that this
mentality actually affected all social classes and not just those in the
lower class; thus, in order to be at par with other people, more money
is spent as fuel for what we have come to know as consumerism. (Marger,
2002, p.110)
To
greater define the divisions between social classes in light of
consumer spending, the researchers have found the analysis provided by
the book Social Inequality: Forms, Causes and Consequences
to be useful. Here, four lifestyle clusters were identified: (1)
prestige acquisition, (2) everyday maintenance, (3) high life, and (4)
home life. (Hurst, 1998, p. 44) These four clusters illustrate the kinds
of spending patterns and rationalities that people from all social
classes consider before using their money. We found this information
applicable to our take on how much people are willing to spend for their
meals, and how social facts affect their decisions.
In John Mariani’s Eating Out, the
researchers have found a casual yet extensive advisory on where to eat,
rules on how to prepare reservations, and overall critique on
restaurants he deemed advisable. He emphasized the importance of a
person’s reasons for visiting food establishments, for it orients the
way they want to be treated, and the way they want their experience to
go. He states, people go to restaurants for all sorts of reasons; food
is not always the prime consideration. Some just want to relax, some
want to impress others, some want an atmosphere conducive to business or
romance, and some choose restaurants seemingly as a challenge to their
ego and ability to throw their weight around. (Mariani, 1985, p. 15)
Food preferences mainly for the middle to upper class are highlighted in
this book through the various restaurants discussed, and researchers
deem this helpful in analyzing material culturem social behaviorism and
symbolic interactionalism perspectives.
The Sociology of Food
is a compilation and comprehensive analysis of various sociological
works that speak widely of eating, diet and culture. Here, the
researchers have found helpful information in theoretical and
sociological approaches of food, viewing it in the
structural-functionalist perspective. According to the book, people
starve because they lack the entitlement rights
to food—entitlement through employment and earnings, through social
security or through ownership. In other words, people go short of food
because of the economic, social and political relationships in which
they are bound. (Mennell, Murcott, & van Otterloo, 1992, p. 6) This
entitlement resounds in our study’s approach on social stratification
and social facts as factors of cuisine.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1) What are the food preferences in terms of social class?
2) Does the social class affect the quality of food consumed?
3) How much were people willing to spend on food in terms of social class?
THEORIES/PERSPECTIVES USED
Having
accomplished all the needed interviews and gathering enough data to answer each
of the researchers’ questions, the next step was to first and foremost apply
the three sociological perspectives namely: structural functionalism, social
conflict, and symbolic interactionism. These will help add depth to the
research by functioning as a framework in analyzing the findings in all the
possible aspects.
Furthermore,
the researchers thought it necessary to apply certain sociological theories in
order to facilitate the connection between the different variables easier. The
researchers will attempt to build a relationship between culture and social
inequality. Culture is the lifestyle of people including, but not
limited to, their way of thinking, acting, and basically everything around them
influenced by social facts or external forces. These social patterns guide
people’s behaviors and give them a distinct experience from everyone else. Our
society has grown so influential that it even has the capacity to dictate one’s
status and role. The way that we dress and the food we eat all
distinguish and separate us into the economic hierarchy that society has
provided.
This
social stratification was clearly seen in our finding and observations
while we were conducting the research. Hopefully, these theories and
perspectives will be able to shed some light on the current spending habits on
food of Filipinos from different social classes.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Lower
(Bracket D) - 0 < 5,167 < 10,000
Lower Middle
(Bracket C-lower) - 10,001 < 15,917 < 20,000
Middle
(Bracket C) - 20,001 < 50,250 < 80,000
Upper Middle/Upper
(Bracket AB) - 80,001 < 154,750 < above
(Average Income Source:
Africa, T. (Director) (2011, March 18). Family Income Distribution in the Philippines, 1985-2009: Essentially the Same. Income Distributions. Lecture conducted from Social Weather Stations, Quezon City.)
For our
research instrument, our group prepared a list of questions printed onto
interview sheets for respondents to answer. There are four categories of social
classes namely: lower (D), lower middle (C-lower), middle(C), and upper middle/upper
(AB). And for each category we have two respondents.
For lower class bracket, we interviewed a housekeeper at a fishball stand and a worker who makes and sells tarpaulins eating at an Archi Vicki Stall at UP Diliman. For the lower middle class, we interviewed two nurses, one at a canteen and the other at Banay Banay eatery.
For the
middle class, we interviewed two employees. The first one is a company
development assistant interviewed at Papa John's and the second is a quality
insurance officer at McDonald's. Lastly, the upper middle to upper class
includes two students at Gelatissimo.
FINDINGS
For the lower class (D), we interviewed a
househelper at a fishball stand and a worker at an Archi Vicki stall in UP
Diliman who creates and sells tarpaulins. They both get a monthly income of
P6,000. The househelper is 23 years; the worker is 21 years old. Both are
Filipinos.
One
interviewee eats in places or stalls similar to the fishball stand she usually
eats in while the other also eats in places similar to the stall he eats in.
One does not eat out often and chooses to eat at home for the reason of saving
money; the other does eat out often and does so practically everyday. Both
allot P100 for a meal and eat 3 meals a day. The issue of money causes neither
of them a great amount of stress for the reason that they are “okay
financially.”
The
usual price range at the fishball stand is around P10 while usual price range
at the Archi Vicki stall is also around P10 to P50. Both find the pricing of
food in their respective places appropriate. As stated in the interview, the
fishball stand is known for its fishballs while the Archi Vicki stall is,
according to the interviewee, not really known or popular. One does not consider her attire before going
to the fishball stand while the other does consider his attire before going to
the Archi Vicki stall. One usually eats alone and the other, with his sibling.
Both consider said places as regular places to eat at. As for that day, one
interviewee decided to eat there because she was looking for merienda; the other decided to eat at
the Archi Vicki stall because he had just passed by it with his sibling. Asked
if they would eat the food offered there everyday if given the chance, one said
yes while the other said no.
Among
the reasons for their eating at the places they would usually frequent were
cheap prices, taste, and accessibility. In terms of the food and whether taste
mattered more than presentation, one said taste matter more while the other said
it did not. But when it came to taste and nutritional value, both preferred
nutritional value to taste. When asked if the nutritional quality of the food
served mattered, one said yes while the other said no because the all foods, to
him, had the same nutritional value. They were also asked if they would usually
leave food uneaten on their plates, one said no while the other said he would,
but only if he did not like the taste of the food.
Concerning
whether they had specific preferences as to where they would usually eat for
lunch or dinner, both said they did not have any specific preferences. When
asked if they would choose to eat somewhere else or find it more appealing if
the prices were too expensive for them, both said they would look for somewhere
else to eat. In terms of considering a restaurant’s reputation, one said she
does not consider it while the other said he does. One has not tried gourmet
food yet while the other has and he described it as ‘okay’. Asked if they have
eaten in hotels and other fine dining establishments, one said no and the other
said yes, but only when there is an occasion.
For the lower middle class (C-lower), we
interviewed a regular nurse in a canteen and a company nurse in a Filipino fast
food establishment called Banay Banay Eatery. They get a monthly income of
P10,000 and P20,000, respectively. One is 25 years old and the other is 39
years old. Both are Filipinos.
One
interviewee eats in places similar to the canteen he usually eats in while the
other also eats in places similar to the eatery she eats in. One does not eat
out often and chooses to eat at home for the reason of saving money and being
able to choose the food he wants to cook; the other nurse does eat out often
and does so 3 to 4 times a week. One allots P30 for a meal while the other
allots P100. One eats 3 meals a day while the other eats 5 meals a day. The
issue of money causes neither of them a great amount of stress. The regular
nurse said that his income is enough for his daily needs and wants while the
company nurse said that she is given a certain allowance for food by the
company therefore saving her from the burden of stressing over money.
The
usual price range at the canteen the regular nurse eats at is normally P30 to
P50 while the usual price range at the Banay Banay Eatery is P50 and above.
Both find the pricing of food in their respective places appropriate. As stated
in the interview, the canteen is known for its good food or meals while the
Banay Banay Eatery is known for its food referred to lutong bahay. One considers
his attire before going to the said place depending on the occasion while the
other does not consider his attire before going to said eatery. One usually
eats alone and the other, with her officemate. Both consider said places as
regular places to eat in. As for that day, one interviewee decided to eat there
because he was feeling to lazy to cook and he wanted to get full; the other
decided to eat at the eatery mentioned because it was easily accessible from
her workplace. Asked if they would eat the food offered there everyday if given
the chance, one said yes while the other said no.
Among
the reasons for their eating at the places they would usually frequent were
affordability, accessibility, good food, cleanliness, and a well-lighted and
comfortable place. In terms of the food, both stated that, to them, taste
matters more than presentation. But when it came to taste and nutritional
value, both preferred nutritional value to taste. Both also answered yes when
asked if the nutritional quality of the food served mattered for health reasons
and to prevent sickness. They were also asked if they would usually leave food
uneaten on their plates and both said no.
Concerning
whether they had specific preferences as to where they would usually eat for
lunch or dinner, one said that it depended on situation and the opportunity or
amount of time he had for eating and that he would mainly choose those places
based on cleanliness of both the place and its crew, and freshness of food. The
other one did not have any specific preferences. When asked if they would
choose to eat somewhere else or find it more appealing if the prices were too
expensive for them, one said he would be okay with it as long as eating at such
places was not too frequent, while the other said she would eat somewhere else
if there was a better and cheaper place to eat. Both would also consider a
restaurant’s reputation before deciding to eat in such a place. Both have not
tried gourmet food yet. Though both have eaten in hotels and other fine dining
establishments, they usually just go there on special occasions.
For the middle class (C), we interviewed two
employees of two different companies – one is a human resource and development
assistant with a monthly income of P21,000 and the other is a quality assurance
officer with a monthly income of P25,000. One was interviewed in Papa John’s
while the other was interviewed in McDonalds – both places being famous among
their circle friends. Both are Filipinos. One is 22 years old while the other
is 25 years old.
Both
interviewees eat at places similar to those they were eating in, but they do
not eat out often. They choose to eat at home or bring their own food instead
because, one said doing so is more convenient and cost-efficient while the
other said she tries to save money as much as possible. One allots P100 for a
meal while the other allots P100 to P200. Both eat at least 3 meals a day and
the issue of money causes neither of them a great amount of stress with the
reasons that they do not deal with the budgeting in their family and have
enough income to provide for their needs.
The
usual price range at the Papa John’s is from P180 to P520 while that of
McDonalds’ is P75 to P100. For the one who ate at Papa John’s, she found the
pricing of the food slightly expensive while the one who ate at McDonalds found
the pricing of the food appropriate. As they stated in the interview, Papa
John’s is known for their pizza with dip while McDonalds is known for their
fast food. Both do not consider their attire before going to the said places.
One usually visits Papa John’s with church friends while the other usually
visits McDonalds with officemates. For the one who ate in Papa John’s, eating
in such a place is due to special occasions, and that the reason for choosing
to eat there on that day was because the orders were good for sharing. For the
one who ate in McDonalds, it was more of a random place to eat, and that the
reason for choosing to eat there on that day was because she and her
officemates had left the office late, were already hungry and were craving for
McDonalds . Asked if they would eat the food offered there everyday if given
the chance, both said no.
Among
the reasons for their eating at the places they would usually frequent were
affordability, accessibility, convenience of location, good taste and their
companions’ choice. In terms of the food, both stated that, to them, taste
matters more than presentation. For one interviewee, nutritional value matters
more than taste while for the other interviewee, taste matters more than
nutritional value. Both answered yes, though, when asked if the nutritional
quality of the food served mattered – one said it was because nutritional value
affects her health while the other said she prefers to eat food with some
nutritional value. They were also asked if they would usually leave food
uneaten on their plates, and both said no.
Concerning
whether they had specific preferences as to where they would usually eat for
lunch or dinner, one said she does not have a choice because she usually has to
eat at the office while the other said she does have specific preferences and
the reason for choosing such preferred places would be because of the location,
reasonable pricing, good taste, and ambiance. When asked if they would choose
to eat somewhere else or find it more appealing if the prices were too
expensive for them, both said they would choose to eat somewhere else. As to
whether they would consider a restaurant’s reputation before deciding to eat in
such a place, one said she rarely considers the restaurant’s reputation while
the other said she does. Both have tried gourmet food with one describing it as
‘different’. Both have also eaten in hotels and other fine dining
establishments, one eats there around every 3 months while the other rarely
eats in such places.
For
the upper middle to upper class bracket
(AB), we interviewed two students dining at the Gelatissimo Café – this
place which according to them is famous among their circle of friends as well.
One interviewee gets a weekly allowance of P500 and the other gets P1000 to
P1400 weekly. Both are 19-year-old Filipinos studying at the Ateneo de Manila
University. One’s parents are medical doctors, and the other’s, both
businessmen.
One
interviewee eats in places similar to the Gelatissimo Café while the other
doesn’t. Both eat out often though, and they do so almost everyday. One allots
P100 for a meal while the other allots P200 to P250. Both eat more than 3 meals
a day and the issue of money causes neither of them a great amount of stress
with the reasons that they are “financially stable” and have “enough to sustain
themselves.”
The
usual price range at the Gelatissimo Café is, according to them, from P100 to
P720. One did not find the pricing of the food entirely appropriate while the
other found it fairly precise in consideration of its quality. As they stated
in the interview, Gelatissimo Café is known for its high quality or gelato ice
cream. Both consider their attire before going to the said place and they visit
it usually with friends or family. It is mainly during special occasions that
they eat at places such as the one mentioned. As for that day though, one
interviewee decided to just eat there because the food, or ice cream in this
case, was delicious. The other just went, too, because his friend had decided
to go there. Asked if they would eat the food offered there everyday if given
the chance, both said yes.
Among
the reasons for their eating at the places they would usually frequent were the
good quality and deliciousness of the food, and the desire to simply stay at
the area. In terms of the food, both stated that, to them, taste matters more
than presentation. For one interviewee, taste also matters more than
nutritional value while for the other, taste sometimes matters more than
nutritional value and vice versa. Both answered yes, though, when asked if the
nutritional quality of the food served mattered – one said it was because he tries
to balance what he eats while the other said she wants to get her money’s
worth. They were also asked if they would usually leave food uneaten on their
plates – one said yes and the other said no.
Concerning
whether they had specific preferences as to where they would usually eat for
lunch or dinner, both agreed that they did have specific preferences. As for
their reasons why they would specifically prefer to eat in those places, one
said it is mainly because of the food, serving size, and price while the other
said, it is because of food, price and ambiance. When asked if they would
choose to eat somewhere else or find it more appealing if the prices were too
expensive for them, one said he would choose to eat somewhere else with the
exception that he would be willing to spend that much because he simply wants
to, while the other said she would not necessarily find it more appealing, but
that she wouldn’t mind paying more if the food was good. Both would also
consider a restaurant’s reputation before deciding to eat in such a place. Both
have tried gourmet food describing it as ‘yummy’ and ‘cool’. Both have also
eaten in hotels and other fine dining establishments, and do so at least once a
month.
ANALYSIS
People are products of their
social environment, just as Emile Durkheim suggested. We have come to find that
most of the things related to food preferences do not purely come from our
respondents; rather, they are affected by the various factors around them.
Among all of the reasons mentioned by our respondents, all social classes
decide on where to eat based upon their location (convenience), the prices of
the food served and the overall taste in which they would consider the items
served as “good food”. It is also observable that the affordability of the food
was mostly the consideration of brackets C, C (lower) and D, while neither of
our two respondents from brackets AB mentioned this consideration at all.
Several of our respondents would go to an establishment because they are going
with their friends or family. Lastly, it was seen that only the respondents
from the AB bracket would buy food because of their desire to stay at the
area/establishment. These results tell us that each person’s food preferences
are shaped by the people surrounding them, as well as the social factors in
which they grew up in or are currently part of.
It is possible, then, that if a person grew up in a family from bracket
C, C (lower) or D, he or she would be more likely to prefer food that are
affordable. Conversely, if a person is born into a family from bracket AB, he
or she is more likely to buy food from establishments they wish to just “hang
out in” and may not even consider the affordability of the aforementioned
location.
Aside from their social
environments, people’s food choices are also affected by their local culture.
Our respondents are all Filipinos, and we can see that the Philippine context
and culture has affected their preferences and approach when it comes to
spending on food. The respondents coming from bracket D tend to eat fishballs
for ‘mirienda’, the respondents coming from bracket C (lower) tend to prefer
local dishes and meals and the respondents coming from brackets C and AB tend
to prefer internationally influenced dishes. Fishballs are cheap local fare and
are found almost everywhere in the Philippines, making it a logical choice for
our respondents to regularly eat this as their midday snack. The
internationally influenced dishes that are preferred by brackets C and AB, on
another hand, may be linked to the colonial mentality that the Filipinos have
come to acquire due to the extended periods of being colonized by western
countries.
Food choices are also
affected by the ‘high culture’ and the ‘popular culture’ in the local context.
Bracket AB are mostly influenced by what is considered as ‘elite’. This claim
was supported by the fact that both our respondents consider the
establishment’s reputation first before deciding to be a patron. On another
hand, food such as isaw, kamoteque, turon, balut, fishballs and the like are
considered local fare and are popular throughout all social classes.
Given the social structures
in place people from the various social classes (with their statuses) act
according to what is expected of them (their roles). People from bracket AB are
expected to dine at more expensive restaurants, and eventually, the people
under this bracket choose to do so. In our study, the people we interviewd from
bracket AB were dining at Gelatissimo, an ice cream cafe which serves 1 scoop
of ice cream for P110 (which is not considered cheap when it comes to ice
cream). In the same manner, people from bracket C (lower) and D are not
expected to dine at high class restaurants, and most of the time, they
themselves also choose not to do so. Some of our respondents coming from the
aforementioned brackets have not even encountered gourmet food and other
specific cuisines.
Structural Functionalism can be observed in almost every social
situation. Applying this perspective in our study, we have seen that the
establishments and restaurants are sustained by their customers. Without their
target markets and respective customers, these establishments would not
survive.
Applying the perspective of Social Conflict to our study, we have found
that inequality is clearly seen through our respondents’ answers. Brackets AB
to C have a tendency to spend more for the sole reason that they have more
money in their pockets, with the respondents alloting P100-P250 for every meal.
On another hand, brackets C (lower) and D allot less money in comparison,
usually spending only P30-P100 per meal. It can be observed that people’s perceptions
on what is ‘expensive’ depend on the social/income bracket they belong to as
well.
As
for Symbolic Interactionism, in application to our study, it can be deduced
that other people’s perceptions of food
(how it tastes, its reputation, etc.) affect our respondents’ choices. If they
hear good news about a certain restaurant, they are more inclined to try it. If
their friends/co-workers eat there, they are more inclined to eat there as
well.
Lastly, despite income
brackets and social conflicts, it all boils down to a person’s personality (which is formed by
his/her external environment). George Herbert Mead claimed that social experience
develops an individual’s personality, which tells us that regardless of the
income bracket, a person’s preferences and behaviors still vary. People from
bracket AB may still opt to buy cheap street food like isaw, balut, and people
from bracket D may still opt to try gourmet food if they are able to save up
for it.
CONCLUSION
Taking into consideration our findings
and analyses, the group has come to a conclusion that food preferences are
affected by social facts, culture, and symbolic interactionism. Lower classes
value affordability and regularity in their preference, and favor local dishes.
While the upper classes’ consider ambience, reputation and largely opt for
international cuisine. Most of their preferences are influenced by what is
considered ‘elite’.
However, the classes also find common
ground in the value of convenience and popular culture such as isaw, kamoteque,
turon, etc. This is manifested in the Theory of the Social Self because we’ve
found that despite the social brackets and social conflicts, it all boils down
to a person’s personality, since people from upper classes also enjoy and are
willing to pay for street food therefore social class does not necessarily
affect the quality of food. Therefore, we can infer that social class does not
necessarily affect food quality.
All in all, we’ve found that given the
social structures in place, people from the various social classes act
according to their roles. However, we have also found gray areas that vary
depending on preference, personality and upbringing as some people from the
upper class are only willing to spend P100 for a meal, while some are willing
to spend more.
Bibliography
Africa, T. (Director) (2011, March 18). Family Income Distribution in the Philippines, 1985-2009: Essentially the Same. Income Distributions. Lecture conducted from Social Weather Stations, Quezon City.
Ashley, B., Hollows, J., Jones, S., & Taylor, B. (2005). Food and cultural studies. (pp. 64-65). New York: The Cromwell Press.
Marger, M. (2002). Social inequality: Patterns and processes. (2nd ed.). USA: The McGraw-Hill.
Hurst, C. (1998). Social Inequality: Forms, Causes and Consequences. Needham Heights: A Viacom Company.
Mariani, J. (1985). Eating Out: Fearless Dining in Ethnic Restaurants. New York: Quill New York.
Mennell, S., Murcott, A., & van Otterloo, A. (1992). The Sociology of Food: Eating, Diet and Culture. Great Britain: SAGE Publications Ltd.
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