White Sauce and Chinese Chews: Recipes as Postcolonial Metaphors
By M. L. deZwart
Glossary Terms
(post)Colonial – Of, relating to, or being the time following the establishment of independence in a colony
postcolonial. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/postcolonial
Postcolonialism - analyse the politics of knowledge (creation, control, and distribution) by analysing the functional relations of social and political power that sustain colonialism and neo-colonialism — the how and the why of an imperial régime’s representations (social, political, cultural) of the imperial coloniser and of the colonised people.
Postcolonial studies. (n.d.) TheFreeDictionary.com. (2013). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Postcolonial+studies
Promulgation – To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially
promulgation. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/promulgation
Eugenics – The study of hereditary improvement of the human race by controlled selective breeding
eugenics. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/eugenics
Quotes
“I began to see white sauce as a metaphor for the ways in which early home economics education perpetuated White identity when it set the course for women’s education in Canada.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 130)
Much of this statement leads to viewing food a metaphor for the values of a society and culture. I wonder what brought this thought to Mary-Leah, where I don’t know whether I would have questioned it.
“The interesting point about White cultural values is that they appear to be culturally neutral unless they are examined in context.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 134)
Do they really seem neutral or do they only seem that way because they have been so ingrained in our thinking or they are reflective of the cook’s/teacher’s/researcher’s own background. Are they neutral to other ethnicities? Does it seem this way because so much of the world had been dominated or indoctrinated by a colonial experience?
“…the life of tomorrow depended on the education of future mothers and home economics should be given its rightful place in a national and international scheme of education.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 137)
I would venture to say that this is an older quote; we need to add to this, fathers of tomorrow as well. Life has change but the idea that home economics should have prominent place in our schools has not.
“…treating food preparation and recipes in an open manner is one small way to work toward an anti-colonial, anti-imperial society.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 141)
I think being aware of the foods and recipes that we choose to teach would go a long way to achieving this goal. Though there is a far way to go.
References
de Zwart, M (2005). White Sauce and Chinese Chews: Recipes as Postcolonial Metaphors, in S. Carter (ed.), Unsettled pasts: Reconceiving the west through women's history (pp. 129-149). Calgary, AB: University of Calgary Press.
(post)Colonial – Of, relating to, or being the time following the establishment of independence in a colony
postcolonial. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/postcolonial
Postcolonialism - analyse the politics of knowledge (creation, control, and distribution) by analysing the functional relations of social and political power that sustain colonialism and neo-colonialism — the how and the why of an imperial régime’s representations (social, political, cultural) of the imperial coloniser and of the colonised people.
Postcolonial studies. (n.d.) TheFreeDictionary.com. (2013). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Postcolonial+studies
Promulgation – To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially
promulgation. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/promulgation
Eugenics – The study of hereditary improvement of the human race by controlled selective breeding
eugenics. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2013
from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/eugenics
Quotes
“I began to see white sauce as a metaphor for the ways in which early home economics education perpetuated White identity when it set the course for women’s education in Canada.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 130)
Much of this statement leads to viewing food a metaphor for the values of a society and culture. I wonder what brought this thought to Mary-Leah, where I don’t know whether I would have questioned it.
“The interesting point about White cultural values is that they appear to be culturally neutral unless they are examined in context.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 134)
Do they really seem neutral or do they only seem that way because they have been so ingrained in our thinking or they are reflective of the cook’s/teacher’s/researcher’s own background. Are they neutral to other ethnicities? Does it seem this way because so much of the world had been dominated or indoctrinated by a colonial experience?
“…the life of tomorrow depended on the education of future mothers and home economics should be given its rightful place in a national and international scheme of education.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 137)
I would venture to say that this is an older quote; we need to add to this, fathers of tomorrow as well. Life has change but the idea that home economics should have prominent place in our schools has not.
“…treating food preparation and recipes in an open manner is one small way to work toward an anti-colonial, anti-imperial society.” (deZwart, 2005, pg. 141)
I think being aware of the foods and recipes that we choose to teach would go a long way to achieving this goal. Though there is a far way to go.
References
de Zwart, M (2005). White Sauce and Chinese Chews: Recipes as Postcolonial Metaphors, in S. Carter (ed.), Unsettled pasts: Reconceiving the west through women's history (pp. 129-149). Calgary, AB: University of Calgary Press.