Families and food poverty in three European Countries in an Age of Austerity

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“Through the looking glass”: the emotional journey of the volunteer ethnographer when researching sensitive topics with vulnerable populations

Publication . Augusto, Fábio Rafael; Hilario, Ana Patricia

This paper extends further research on being both a volunteer and ethnographic researcher and intends to offer some insights on the emotional challenges of adopting this dual role when conducting research on sensitive topics and with vulnerable populations. The discussion presented here draws upon an ethnographic participant observation study of a food redistribution organization (Re-food) held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The paper builds awareness on the emotional challenges in the field and discusses potential selfreflective strategies for researchers to cope with the extraordinary demands posed on them by specific circumstances and subjects. The volunteer ethnographer, when developing their work, is subject to a wide range of emotional challenges that are related to the functions that they had to develop in the research context itself due to their dual role, as well as to the vulnerability of participants and the sensitivity of the topic addressed.

2019Journal article

Open access

Ajuda alimentar em Portugal: as iniciativas e os seus atores

Publication . Augusto, Fábio Rafael

O aumento do número de pedidos de ajuda alimentar, bem como o crescimento, expansão e consolidação das iniciativas a atuar no sector, têm gerado debate sobre o lugar ocupado por estas organizações e o papel que desempenham. Em Portugal, um pouco à semelhança do que acontece no contexto europeu, têm-se verificado processos de crescente responsabilização moral da sociedade civil em matéria de ajuda alimentar. O Estado Social tem delegado nestas entidades parte das suas funções e há críticas apontadas na literatura científica acerca das iniciativas de apoio alimentar que incorrem no risco de desconsiderar qualquer valor social positivo associado a estas organizações. Isto contribui ativamente para a ausência deste tipo de estratégias de atuação e para a promoção de vazios interventivos sem que existam alternativas funcionais. Face à previsível continuidade e permanência deste tipo de respostas, é importante conhecer as mesmas de forma compreensiva e procurar perceber como elas podem ir ao encontro das necessidades dos seus atores.

2022Other

Open access

School Meals and Food Poverty: Children’s Views, Parents’ Perspectives and the Role of School

Publication . Cardoso, Sónia; Truninger, Mónica; Ramos, Vasco; Augusto, Fábio Rafael

This paper addresses the importance of school meals in balancing food budgets and diets among 45 lowincome families in Portugal. Drawing on interviews with both parents and children (aged 11–15 years) we found that children’s views on the quality of school meals affect their willingness to eat at school and heighten parental concerns with health, food and resources. For parents, school meals are crucial to ensure children’s dietary variety and balancing tight food budgets. Schools’ role in food poverty alleviation is also critically addressed, contributing to current and future sociological studies of children, school meals and food poverty.

2019Journal article

Open access

Alimentação em tempos difíceis - entre a família e a escola

Publication . Truninger, Monica; Ramos, Vasco

Em Portugal, os dados estatísticos mais recentes apontam para uma diminuição da taxa de pobreza, face ao pico da crise de 2008-2015. Apesar da evolução positiva, os números continuam a ser muito elevados, estimando-se que 2,2 milhões de pessoas estivessem em risco de pobreza ou exclusão social em 2018. Existe igualmente um número muito significativo de pessoas que continua a recorrer a ajuda de emergência para suprir necessidades alimentares básicas. Alguns estudos revelam que os impactos da crise financeira global e a intervenção musculada de medidas de contenção orçamental no período austero da Troika (2011-2014) atingiram com mais força as famílias com crianças, sendo o risco de pobreza maior entre as famílias monoparentais e as famílias numerosas. No entanto, são muito escassos os dados sistemáticos sobre as famílias com crianças em situação de pobreza alimentar ou acerca das suas experiências alimentares quotidianas.

2019Other

Open access

Food assistance in Portugal: organizational challenges in three different contexts

Publication . Augusto, Fábio Rafael

Drawing on an ethnographic research study, developed in three different food assistance initiatives (FAI) operating in Portugal, this article seeks to explore the elements that characterize them and the main organizational challenges they face. Participant observation was carried out in a surplus food redistribution charity, a soup kitchen, and a social supermarket, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with supervisors of these FAI. The study followed an inductive coding strategy and a thematic analysis was developed. The main results point to an appreciation of the initiatives and the role they play, but they also highlight the existence of several challenges, mainly related to: i) difficulties in accessing sources of funding; ii) the absence of an intervening state; and iii) a scarcity of resources that allow a thorough assessment of their activities and services provided, which weakens the public image of these responses. The development of food assistance in Europe has a long history. Over the past few years, this sector has grown significantly. Nowadays, it is possible to identify several realities around emergency food provision. However, this heterogeneity has not been sufficiently explored in the literature. In addition, there are few studies that report on the variety of initiatives that co-exist in Portugal and establish a comparison between them. The current paper intends to overcome this gap by seeking to understand the main models of food assistance operating in the country.

2021Journal article

Open access