By: Ella Ferrell, Genevieve Adole, Katelyn Herbert, and Thia Dryden.

When thinking about food insecurity, the group of people who comes to mind most likely isn’t single mothers; this report aims to shift your perspective to include single-mother households facing food insecurity. Food-related struggles are at an all-time high in Canada because of inflation and the overall health of the economy. This causes increased attendance and reliance on food banks from households with non-traditional family structures; i.e. single mother households. This research aims to bring light to this narrowed demographic of the food insecure by examining 20 stories from Feed Ontario between 2015 and 2024. The articles were coded under various categories including framing, tone, media portrayal, vocabulary use, image analysis, etc. The findings of this report emphasize the small number of stories from and about single mothers and their experience with food banks. Conclusions found were related to an observed lack of complete representation of food insecure single mothers in the media. The report understands the importance of communication theories, specifically agenda setting, framing, and social identity theories, within past literature to understand what gaps our research aims to fill. Attention is placed on spreading awareness about single mothers’ experiences and the importance of food banks, their funding, government support, and finding additional resources/goods to offer single-mother households.

Literature Review

The intersection between food insecurity and single-mother households is an important topic researchers often overlook. This gap has been filled by a few researchers, but moving forward, we want to understand how this issue relates to various communication theories. This would help to better understand what single mothers need, regarding support and resources, from their local food banks.

After reviewing the literature on these topics, it became clear that single mothers require support for their own well-being as well as their children’s. Households with single mothers, “rather than married [parents], [have] higher odds of child food insecurity” (Balistreri, 2018). One parent households are more vulnerable to food-related issues because of their “non-traditional family structure” (Balistreri, 2018). Single mothers are more vulnerable than single fathers because of societal pressures and a lack of resources (Balistreri, 2018). The children of these households are at risk of “reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns” (Balistreri, 2018). The mothers of these households struggle to support their children, and even if they have their kids on a nontraditional eating schedule, they still prioritize feeding their children and meeting their children’s needs before their own (Martin et al., 2012). This “notion that women’s own food is less important than that prepared for others” adds to the pressure put on mothers (Martin et al., 2012). This expectation and motherly instinct keep children fed and cared for, even if there is not enough food or money, mothers still “buy to feed the kids when it comes down to it” (Martin et al., 2012). However, these selfless actions then put the mother’s health at risk if they don’t have enough food to feed themselves and if they don’t get the external support they need. Some of the other challenges these mothers face is finding stable employment/income, they struggle with high food prices, and, because of this, do not have access to nutritious food (Madhavan et al., 2021).

Regarding communication theory, the literature hints at ideas of social identity theory. This theory highlights that people compare themselves to others regarding character, material wealth, income, and status (Peterson et al., 2010). This creates a set of pressures and expectations that are put onto certain groups, pushing them to act a certain way and to reach a certain goal or lifestyle. Single mothers have a lot of expectations to live up to when doing the work of two parents. There is a level of shame when parents cannot support their children in the same way that their peers can. This leads to mothers overextending themselves to give their children that lifestyle by putting their own health at risk (Madhavan et al., 2021). Mothers do this because, even in food-secure households, gender roles place the burden of providing food on women (Martin et al., 2012). Social identity theory tells us that these mothers are trying to make their kids happy but also make society happy by fitting an ideal that most single mothers should not be expected to reach. These external pressures then cause internal self-judgments, causing mothers to be scared to ask for help and support, not wanting to risk failure or being considered a ‘bad’ parent.

Regarding agenda-setting theory, based on the limited literature available, single mothers are not getting enough media coverage. The media does not focus on the food insecure, those hardly getting by, because these struggles are silent. The media covers extreme cases, putting them in the public eye. However, when it comes to the food insecurity of single mothers behind closed doors, there is no discourse in the media about this. The stigma around single mothers and the fear of asking for help have minimized the issue to the public eye and isolated this group even further. Relating to agenda-setting theory, framing theory tells us how mothers are framed in the media. Above, I mentioned the high expectations that are often placed on single mothers, this makes it difficult for them to admit they are in need or to ask for help. In addition, the resources and items they need help with are not clear because their voices are not added to the conversation. This sheds light on how to continue with this research and begs food banks to understand what resources single mothers and their children need; especially focusing on the mother’s needs, taking that weight and pressure off their shoulders.

Moving forward into our research, we understand that there is a lack of coverage of single mother’s stories and how they experience food insecurity. We want to understand how the women feel, how their stories are portrayed in the news, and what they need from food banks.

Methods

The method used for this study was to conduct a research analysis on the website feedontario.ca. Feed Ontario is the largest association of hunger relief organizations in the province (Who We Are: Vision & mission 2024). We used this website to analyze the issue of food insecurity as it is a reputable organization that presents accurate, trustworthy, and current information, dedicated to addressing hunger relief in Ontario. This is beneficial as the research population aims to help those in the Niagara region. The research sample was 20 stories/articles from this website, selected systematically by choosing every firth article in the search results. The articles in this study were analyzed from the public domain, meaning a formal ethics assessment is deemed unnecessary because there were no possible privacy concerns, and the research involved no staged interventions by the researchers.

Each article underwent coding for demographic details (article name, publication date, specific searches; “mothers”, “food banks”, “food insecurity,” “government”), variables of the article’s point of view (told directly from someone experiencing these issues or issues told/interpreted by the writer), framing of tone in the article (positive, negative, or neutral), the vocabulary used related to food insecurity (positive, negative, neutral), source of food mentioned (grocery stores, food banks, soup kitchens, other, unclear), how stories were spoken about (with hope, concern, a lens of guidance/help, informative, other), the imagery used (fresh food, workers, families/children, executives pictured, black and white photo filter, picture of who the story is about), and mention of ways to donate to the organization (yes or no). Four coders, to ensure intercoder reliability, coded the 20 articles in the sample.

Results

The “mother” search resulted in the majority of articles being published in 2017. 60% were directly narrated by those experiencing the issues, 40% were framed in a positive tone, 20% negative, and 40% neutral. Vocabulary used related to food insecurity resulted in 20% neutral, 40% positive and 40% negative. Food banks were the primary food source in this search. 80% of the articles did not provide a donation option. In the “food banks” search, the majority of articles, mainly from 2017, were writer-interpreted with a 60% positive. The vocabulary was 60% positive and 40% neutral. 100% of the food source was food banks. Stories varied in tone, with 40% in guiding and informing. Imagery included 40% fresh food. 40% of articles mentioned donations. In the “food insecurity” search, 40% were published in 2021. Positive tone and vocabulary were both the majority at 80%. 100% mentioned food banks. 80% depicted concern and guidance. All articles in this search provided information on ways to donate. For the “government” search, articles were published across various years, and they were all from the writer’s perspective. The framing tones were 60% positive. The vocabulary was 60% neutral and 40% negative. All articles mentioned food banks, but none discussed donations. They were all informative, with 60% expressing concern and providing guidance.

Discussion

Based on these results, the “mother” search, in which the majority of the stories were told by individuals who were directly impacted, had a diverse range of tones. The results from the “food banks” search were writer-interpreted, emphasizing positivity and including mentions of donations. It is also interesting to note that the majority of the articles selected for these searches were mainly published in 2017, this poses the question of whether information regarding food insecurity was needed more during this time. The “food insecurity” search had a consistent positive tone and vocabulary usage, along with the details of food sources and donation information. Demonstrating an effort to raise awareness and encourage action. The “government” search reveals a more institutional perspective, with articles mostly presenting information from the writer’s viewpoint. Overall, these results stress the significance of continuous efforts to address food insecurity by raising awareness, advocating causes, collaborating, and putting comprehensive and long-lasting solutions into action.

Limitations

In the beginning, this study’s limitation was the specific demographic investigation we were trying to correlate – single mothers who utilized food banks. Finding a consistent medium to locate personal accounts on social media to be coded was challenging. Feed Ontario provided documented first-hand stories and reprisal information in this active food crisis. While it is beneficial to have this provincial information, our analysis could not specifically focus on the Niagara area. Further research, while providing visibility on the critical role food banks hold in communities, would bring more awareness and the opportunity to collect substantial data to better serve the specific individuals in this study. Gathering first-hand accounts from a source broader than Feed Ontario and single mothers is crucial to advance this study.

Implications, Recommendations, and Conclusion

The demographic of food insecure single mothers rely on food banks for, not only food, but also support in the form of baby formula, diapers, and feminine hygiene products. However, there is a stigma around this group of individuals openly asking for help, causing them to be embarrassed. Our research shows the intensification of Canadians’ reliance on food banks, which results from inadequate public policies and support programs. Feed Ontario adamantly defends its mission as not being sustainable for long-term relief. It vindicates those who rely on the food bank networks and demands that the government acknowledge its failures and take accountability in this crisis. The ramifications of this study supports Feed Ontario’s statistics on the structural collapse of the food bank networking system if the government continues to remain indifferent; the only option is change. This study offers a starting point to develop a better understanding of average Canadians living with food insecurity by maintaining the dignity of those who rely on food banks. In addition, there is a need to teach others about their predicament by spreading awareness and giving the organizations and services that assist those in need more media attention. Furthermore, the communication theories used in this study understand the strenuous situation of being a woman and a single parent in a society where reliance on food banks has been viewed as the fault of one’s own; blaming the person rather than inadequate government policies. Public perception of these issues can improve with transparent communication about food insecurity and the multitude of struggles that have been systematically escalating well before the pandemic. Moving forward in support of single mothers, food banks need to take time to focus on this demographic. They deserve to feel welcome in a society that aims to isolate them. As a final note, it became clear that the stories of the women in these situations helped our research team understand exactly how this demographic deals with food insecurity. However, this idea of experience sharing needs to continue in the coming years to build support for mothers in an economy that is against them.

References

Balistreri, K. S. (2018). Family Structure and Child Food Insecurity: Evidence from the Current Population Survey. Social Indicators Research, 138(3), 1171–1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1700-7

Chandler, D., & Munday, R. (2011). Agenda setting. Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095355782

FAO. (2024). Hunger and food insecurity. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/hunger/en/#:~:text=A%20person%20is%20food%20insecure,of%20resources%20to%20obtain%20food.

Framing Theory. Mass Communication Theory. (2014, February 18). https://masscommtheory.com/theory-overviews/framing-theory/

Madhavan, S., Clark, S., & Schmidt, S. (2021). Single mothers coping with food insecurity in a Nairobi slum. Urban Studies, 58(13), 2703-2720. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098020963849

Martin, M. A., & Lippert, A. M. (2012). Feeding her children, but risking her health: The intersection of gender, household food insecurity and obesity. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 74(11), 1754–1764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.013

Ontario Food Banks for Ending Hunger & Poverty. Feed Ontario. (2024, January 8). https://feedontario.ca/

Peterson, P., Baker, E., & McGaw, B. (2010). Social Identity theory. Social Identity Theory – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/social-identity-theory#:~:text=Social%20identity%20theory%20suggests%20that,anger%2C%20envy%2C%20or%20stress.

Who we are: Vision & mission. Feed Ontario. (2024). https://feedontario.ca/about-us/who-we-are/#:~:text=Feed%20Ontario%20is%20the%20province’s,change%20through%20research%20and%20advocacy.

Appendix 1

Definitions

Food Insecurity: an individual or a family that lacks consistent access to safe, substantive, and nutritious food (FAO, 2024). Related to lack of resources, time, and money a family/parent has when obtaining food for their children as well as themselves (FAO, 2024).

Social Identity Theory: a group of individuals who classify themselves as part of the same social collective by internalizing the group’s defining attributes, lifestyles, and self-evaluations (Peterson et al., 2010).

Agenda-Setting Theory: the media plays a crucial role in defining topics that get attention and topics that are shown to the public (Chandler et al., 2011). This shapes the public opinion based on the narrow view of the issues that are identified and publicized (Chandler et al., 2011).

Framing Theory: adds to agenda-setting theory by only showing certain problems in the media (Framing Theory, 2014). Viewers get used to a single view on a topic and start to adopt the worldview that is framed in the media, turning the news into the viewer’s reality; regardless of missing information, and misleading stories (Framing Theory, 2014).

Appendix 2