Gendered Representations of Lunch Ladies: A comparative discourse analysis

• In Event: 256 - Section on Organizations, Occupations and Work Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Female-Dominated Occupations

Abstract

The media is one of the largest socializing institutions in our everyday lives. It has the power to influence how we see society and ourselves. The various forms of media, including television shows, movies, music, and books, all present images of women (and men) in different forms and characteristics. Previous research has analyzed gendered representations in movies and television shows, but in this discussion I will be building upon this literature by analyzing gendered representations of food service employees (i.e. Lunch Ladies). Then, I will compare these representations to Lunch Ladies’ perceptions of themselves and their work, using interview and ethnographic data. Using a comparative discourse analysis, will allow me to show the different gendered representations of Lunch Ladies, and whether these images challenge the current gender structure. Privileging social constructivism, I believe these images of representation in the media effect our perception of what and who a Lunch Lady is. The results show that Lunch Ladies are characterized as two equally problematic images: the witch and the mother. Further analysis from in-depth interviews with five Lunch Ladies at an elementary school will determine if the Lunch Ladies themselves see these gendered representations as problematic or empowering. Additionally, ethnographic fieldwork will look at whether or not these Lunch Ladies adhere to or challenge these images in their everyday practices of food service.

Author

• Ashley Denise Vancil-Leap, University of Missouri-Columbia