Food as a Social Justice Issue: The Food Justice Movement in the United States

Author

Mo Constantine

Date of Award

2018

First Advisor

Maryann Tebben

Second Advisor

Christopher Coggins

Abstract

The teleology of progress causes us to believe that our agro-food system, flawed as it is, must be the most logical and efficient option available. The belief that agriculture itself is beneficial and even necessary prevents the consideration of solutions that lie outside of the agricultural system, a system that has been proven to be socially, economically, and environmentally unsustainable. The food justice movement in the United States is a response to this industrialized and globalized agro-food system which has rendered thousands of communities and millions of individuals unable to access or produce healthy food in a sustainable way. Through interviews and an analysis of current and past food movements, this thesis explores the various ideals, strategies, and outcomes of food justice efforts, asking what their potential is to address and solve food injustices. It also addresses fundamental questions of sustainability, asking how we arrived at the current agro-food system and what steps should be taken to (re)create a sustainable and just food system.

Recommended Citation

Constantine, Mo, "Food as a Social Justice Issue: The Food Justice Movement in the United States" (2018). Senior Theses. 1220.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/sr-theses/1220