The women eat last: traditions, table manners and gender narratives at the Romanian dining table

Abstract

This study explores gendered food practices and mealtime dynamics in Romanian households, both in Romania and in the United Kingdom. It examines how traditions of food sourcing, preparation, and serving are reproduced, adapted, or contested in native and diasporic settings. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with five participants, the research employs critical thematic analysis to examine recurring patterns and underlying ideologies. Four key themes were identified: gender-based hierarchies; marital status hierarchies; gender identity negotiation; and gendered power dynamics. Findings indicate that while traditional expectations around foodwork remain, younger respondents and those of the diaspora increasingly challenge and reconfigure such norms. Food practices emerge as domains of cultural continuity and personal agency, where participants assert autonomy, display culinary capital, and renegotiate traditional gender roles. This study lays the foundation for future research into the intersections of food practices, gender, migration, and cultural identity across diverse family contexts. Despite limitations related to a small sample size and gender representation, its exploratory research design enabled rich, context-sensitive insights into recurring dynamics in varying environments. It contributes new perspectives to gendered hospitality and Eastern European domestic studies by positioning family meals as key sites of symbolic power, identity negotiation, and the reinforcement of normative household hierarchies.