Introduction
Because food is fundamental for the preservation of life, it is a powerful and effective tool for the execution of punishment. This biological aspect, in itself, is reason enough to explain why food is such a compelling weapon. Yet the human relation to food extends beyond the physical. Individual food habits are profoundly influenced by culture. The act of eating – what, why, how, when, and with whom one eats – is defined by a complex set of social values and rituals that signify one’s membership within a specific group and give one’s life meaning. The extent to which a person abides by these norms symbolizes who that person is. In this sense, eating is closely linked to an individual’s sense of personal and social identity. Food punishments, whether by deprivation or forced feeding, can threaten one’s physical well-being as well as one’s sense of self when used for harm. When food is used to...
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Hostetter, J. (2013). Punishment and Food. In: Thompson, P., Kaplan, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_45-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_45-3
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