Cup of Tea to Keep Warm

Abstract

The way people source, prepare, and consume food is deeply interconnected with social practice. Drawing on theories of everyday life and social practice, we consider the everyday food-related practices and tactics for survival of six people experiencing homelessness. In doing so, we identify ways in which the realities of homelessness force people to conduct domestic activities in public view and discuss how the inability to engage in simple and taken-for-granted practices such as making a cup of tea is psychologically detrimental. This research documents the oft-overlooked ways that people experiencing homelessness demonstrate tenacity and resourcefulness and the agentive ways in which they respond to difficult circumstances. Our analysis broadens understanding of the disruptive mechanisms of homelessness as they pertain to food-related social practices. Additionally, we present new considerations of the ways in which people who previously experienced homelessness do their best to ‘mend’ disruptions through processes of ‘re-mooring’ and adopting tactics for survival.

Keywords

• homelessness
• everyday life
• cooking
• meals
• social practice theory