16 research outputs found
I valori emergenti in una prospettiva interculturale. Una ricerca in Valle d’Aosta
No full textIl lavoro di ricerca prende in esame le principali dimensioni della cultura - partendo dal modello del sociologo olandese Hofstede - e le considera in relazione alle caratteristiche sempre più complesse e diversificate delle società contemporanee. I risultati dell'indagine, condotta nel contesto valdostano, evidenziano l'emergenere di uno scenario sociale sempre più complesso, sottoposto a forme di inevitabile ibridazione culturale tra valori consolidati e valori emergenti. Il merito principale dell'analisi risiede nel tentativo di "mettere a punto" gli strumenti metodologici e culturali per rileggere e affrontare in chiave "interculturale" il fenomeno della multietnicità, partendo dall'assunto - spesso trascurato - che il contesto di accoglienza non è mai neutro e che per comprendere adeguatamente le dinamiche di interazione tra culture differenti è opportuno comprendere prima di tutto i "paradigmi nascosti" della propria cultura
Tra pratiche di consumo e valori: i fattori alla base del cambiamento nel consumo di cibo durante il lockdown
No full textThe massive and drastic measures, such as the lockdown, that governments across the world have taken to contain the contagion of COVID-19 created a condition that demanded the review of the daily habits of both individuals, and communities. The whole range of daily food-related practices – from shopping, to cooking, to gathering information on purchases, all the way to the form and timing of meals – especially underwent significant changes. Many of these
consumer practices provide evidence of an impact that has at once both exacerbated, and normalised a polarization of extremes in peoples’ way of living, acting, thinking, and feeling.
Starting from the awareness that consumer practices – especially eating – are “the locus of the social”, the research presented in this paper investigated changes that occurred in food habits during the two months of lockdown in Italy, on the basis of a wide sample survey (3155 voluntary participants from all Italian regions).
The first research findings from both explorative and confirmative factorial analysis show that five main latent dimensions determined the most significant changes in eating practices during the lockdown. The principal factor out of those correlated to the observed changes refer to what we can call “mindful” consumer habits, relying upon forms of aware, sustainable consumption. The second and the third principal factors are, respectively, family size and composition, and food-related social media practices. In sociological terms this means that the way to more mindful
and sustainable eating styles encouraged by the pandemic needs intervention on both structural and cultural levels. For sociological research in consumption this means the investigation of both the sphere of practices, and of values guiding consumer choices
Sustainable eating in the “new normal” Italy: ecological food habitus between biospheric values and de-globalizing gastronationalism
No full textThis article presents the results of a survey on sustainable food consumption in Italy during COVID-19 times. The study examines the changes triggered by the pandemic, both in sustainable food practises and in consumers' value-based priorities. The goal is to identify the structuring of an ecological dietary habitus and even a culinary ethos as attention is paid to the reflexive, axiological dimensions of emerging eating habits. The complexity of the phenomenon has suggested a multi-paradigmatic research approach that accounts for the role of human agency in restructuring eating practises in transitional times. The results highlight an emerging nonlinear axiology in which biospheric universalism ambiguously coexists with the lionizing of locavorism and the glorification of food origins, and the direct provision of local food gains prominence despite the increasing mediatization of food choices. A deglobalizing eating style is emerging, where ecological instantiations seem to indulge culinary nationalism and conservative communitarianism. One of the challenges of the "new normal" will be to endow these dispositions with the axiological coherence of an appropriate ecological culinary ethos, as well as to create the conditions for younger generations to prioritize forward-looking ecological values over conservative gastronationalism to promote the sustainable regeneration of food systems
Food patriotism: Italians’ premiumization of Made-in-Italy food in pandemic times
No full textThe pandemic has accelerated a process of "deglobalization" of food consumption that had been underway for some time and that has sparked a growing interest in "eating local." The "local product" has become so prominent among Italian consumers that, according to the major national surveys, the number of purchases of products with a reference to Italy on the label has increased by +7.6%, be it the simple three-colour flag or phrases and words referring to "Made in Italy", or the presence of European certifications such as DOP, IGP, etc. In order to verify these trends, this paper presents the results of a survey carried out on a sample of 1545 Italians on the consumption of food "Made in Italy" since COVID -19 . Our data confirm this "patriotic turn" in Italians' food consumption. By asking about the reasons that lead people to prefer food "Made in Italy", the survey sheds light on the growing gastronationalistic feeling that accompanies the preference for local food
Modelli di consumo sostenibile connessi al cibo al tempo della “Nuova Normalità” da Covid-19
No full textThe global crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we as consumers live, work, and shop. The climate of uncertainty and fear that characterizes the ‘new normal’, as well as the measures to contain the contagion across the world has brought about the rise of a ‘homebound’ lifestyle and a review of daily practices – especially referring to food habits – of both individuals, and communities. The persisting social distancing has enhanced the role of technologies as connectors with the outside world, thus accelerating digital transition especially in food procurement and purchase. Consumer concerns about preventive health has shifted their focus to healthy and safe food, as well as to unharmful forms of consumption and production; nevertheless, the unprecedented loss of spending power experienced by large segments of consumers has also caused cautious spending without giving up quality. In terms of consumer behaviour this would mean an unusual cohabiting of drivers to premiumisation as well as to a new concept of convenience.
The research findings presented in this paper provide a first framework of the above-described emerging food-related patterns and value-based claims, investigated on an international, conveniently self-formed sample of about 5.000 respondents. Data casts light on factors underpinning a new consumer culture where digitization of food-related practices, claims for safety and sustainability, and age-based values play important roles
