Che ci faccio qui? Il consumo dei poveri tra miserie alimentari e cura dei legami sociali

This study aims to investigate the role of soup kitchens as a practice to combat food poverty among individuals in a condition of severe deprivation (Bourdieu 2015). Data are collected through a questionnaire and participant observation at the soup kitchens in Avellino, Cava de Tirreni, and Salerno. According to the author, these data describe new forms of food disaffiliation while also providing an analysis of the emergence of new social bonds. Food practices – defined here as “the right to be free from hunger” (Alicino 2018) – can be seen as a means of economic support and a strategy for savings, social reintegration, and identity renegotiation. Furthermore, the study emphasizes a connection between poverty, gender, and marital status, revealing how beneficiaries use spaces differently. The analysis of these practices also uncovers a complex socio-economic participation experienced by individuals with diverse life histories and varying levels of social vulnerability.