This study examines the work of single, white, middle-class women feeding and caring for their families during the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The study draws from qualitative analyses of one-on-one interviews conducted with seven single mothers. After situating single mothers and family food provision in the academic literature, as well as and current knowledge about the pandemic in the U.S., the author explores ways that the pandemic disrupted family life. Findings indicated that the single mothers were keenly impacted by being cut off from child care, schools, and other social connections they needed to maintain employment. Further, their feeding work became exceptionally complex as they navigated the need to provide food for their families amid restricted food options, alongside the need to minimize family exposure to the coronavirus. The mothers’ meal preparations and connecting around meals were impacted by complexities caused by the virus and social distancing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-5411 |
| Date | 01 May 2021 |
| Creators | Garrison, Debora |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright by the authors. |
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