B.Sc. Food Safety Management_RS 1105_Sociology of Food and Agriculture

Course Overview:

As interest has increased in topics such as the globalization of the agri-food system, food security, and food safety, the subjects of food and agriculture are making their way into a growing number of courses in disciplines within the social sciences and the humanities, like sociology and food studies. Through this exploration of food in society, students will discover the fundamental significance of the relationships between people and food. In studying the ways food is produced and consumed, we will also discover the ways food shapes and expresses relationships among people. This course will address also issues of culture, meaning, identity, power, and ecology, all through a focus on food as well as social structure, society, and culture. This course will enhance students' understanding of the socio-political aspects that influence the interrelations between food, health, environment and society and that are reflected in traditional as well as novel governance arrangements.

Learning Outcomes:

On Completion of this course, the learner will be able to
1	Demonstrate an understanding of theories, research methods and debates in food socioloe:v
2	Demonstrate an understanding of how social structures and cultural norms can influence food habits
3	Explain how socialisation shapes our food preferences
4	Construct an evidence table on a specific topic relevant to food sociology
5	Communicate understanding of theories and debates in food sociology in essay form.
6	Describe the moralistic overtones in discourses around food habits in different contexts and for different people

Course Content:

Understanding the food system: Past, present and future

Exploring social structure: Social structure of Bangladesh, Political and cultural elements The Social Determinants of Food Choice: The influences of culture on contemporary food and nutrition practices social and scientific considerations in establishing standards for nutrient requirements and the nutrient content and quality of food, and in determining the effects of nutrients, foods, and diets on health.

Contemporary food habits and family dynamics: Contemporary dietary influences, Fast foods, eating out, convenience, and 'dietary individualism', The Family System, Family dynamics, Maternal ideologies and infant feeding, Understanding obesity

Food and culture: Agro-biocultural diversity and knowledge transfer -- How much is enough?, Community impacts, food and culture, and diversity

World food economy: Global hunger and obesity challenges, GM foods, and international trade and subsidies

Food security, alternative and social movements, food sovereignty, local versus global, and

fair trade

Food and Gender: Influences of gender on food and nutrition, Gender division of household and food tasks, Malnutrition

Learning and Teaching Methods:

Lectures, class discussion, case studies, guest lectures and field visit

Total Teaching Contact Hours: 32 hours lecture

Total Self-Directed Learning Hours: 68

Essential Reading: (author, date, title, publisher)

The Sociology of Food and Agriculture, Michael Carolan. 2nd Edition. Routledge. March 2012. Print ISBN: 9780415698511. eBookISBN: 9780203136799

The Sociology of Food and Agriculture, Michael Carolan. 2nd Edition. Routledge. March 2012. Print ISBN: 9780415698511. eBook ISBN: 9780203136799

The Sociology of Food: Eating and the Place of Food in Society. Jean-Pierre Poulain. Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic, 2017. ISBN 13: 9781472586216

Ali, A & A. Niehof (2007) Changing gender roles in household food security and rural livelihoods in Bangladesh. In: J. Pender, R. Ruben & A. Kuyvenhoven (eds) Sustainable Poverty Reduction in Less-favoured Areas. Wallingford: CABI, pp. 228-245.

Supplemental Reading: (author, date, title, publisher) Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology.

Brans, J., T. Dietz, A. Niehof & K. Witsenburg (2007) Dimensions of vulnerability of livelihoods on less-favoured areas: Interplay between the individual and the collective. In Pender, R. Ruben & A. Kuyvenhoven (eds) Sustainable Poverty Reduction in Less­ favoured Areas. Wallingford: CABI, pp. 91-111.

Climate Change Vulnerabilities of Woman in Bangladesh Nishith Zahan Tanny and M. Wakilur Rahman Dept. of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh in The Agriculturists 14(2): 113-123(2016) ISSN 2304-7321 (Online)