The Social Power of Food for Identity and Health: A Case Study of Chinese Communities in the UK

What role does food play in the construction of social identity? The research outlined in this chapter aims to explore whether and to what extent Chinese cultural food influences the social and health dynamics of the Chinese in the UK. The chapter draws on ethnographic fieldwork to explore how food shapes the social identity of British Chinese. The healthy diet and food culture departing from traditional beliefs were found to be heavily influential to the Chinese communities in constructing social identities. Findings in the forms of interviews and observational data reveal an intertwined relationship between the understanding of food and health decisions. A commonly shared belief among the respondents is that they simply do not need to engage as much in the British health system due to a superior lifestyle centralised around the Chinese diet compared to the rest of the UK population. Healthier Chinese eating behaviour based on steamed rather than fried food is considered by the Chinese in the UK to be more advanced than the food in the host UK society. The processual development of Chinese cuisine to gain popularity in UK society since the 1980s formulated an escape point for the Chinese to challenge the power structures enforced by their migration experience. The continuous existence of Chinese takeaway shops developed a sense of group charisma among the Chinese in the UK over time. This chapter provides evidence for the social power of food consumption, diet and cuisine of the Chinese culture in balancing the power differences faced by the ethnic minority. Despite being considered a less socially interactive ethnic minority, findings show that the British Chinese use food as leverage to construct social confidence in the host society.