Our new book, Kitchen Resistance, is turning traditional feminists narratives on its head, through ground breaking research on women’s role in the kitchen, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
While being in the kitchen has been derided by previous waves of feminists, Kitchen Resistance: How Women Have Used Food As A Political Tool Since 1800 reframes it as an instrument of empowerment. Over the centuries, politicians have repeatedly made poor decisions that have left the British people hungry. It is often women who have stepped in to fix things, helping to heal our communities.
The book features around 40 stories of women who have used food as a political or social tool. From wet nurses who gave us the foundations of our modern care system, free school meals pioneers, those who broke taboos in the 80s by feeding people during the HIV & AIDS crisis, and the women running food banks and cooperatives to tackle hunger and greedflation in the current cost of living crisis. These stories will make you think differently about women and food.
You can buy a copy of Kitchen Resistance from our website, or all good bookshops. An e-book version is also available to download.