Environment and affluence : how food insecurity shapes student identity at a selective flagship institution.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand how students who experience food insecurity manage and display their identity at a selective state flagship institution with a culture of affluence. Though many scholars have sought to establish the prevalence of food insecurity on college campuses, little is known about how different environmental contexts shape how a student experiences food insecurity and how students shape the campus in return. This study utilizes a sociological framework to understand the dynamic relationship between students and college environments. The findings of this study provide a model that can be used to understand how students experience food insecurity across multiple environmental contexts. Additionally, findings show how students are socialized to navigate affluent environments, but also how they exert agency within the space through two modalities: Instrumentalists and Opportunists.