Family Practices and Temporality at Breakfast: Hot Spots, Convenience and Care. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pirani, Daniela; Harman, Vicki; Cappellini, Benedetta
• Is Part Of: Sociology. Volume 56:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: breakfast -- convenience food -- doing family -- hot spots -- Italy; Sociology -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Periodicals; Sociologie -- Périodiques; Sociologie; Electronic journals; 301.05
• DOI: 10.1177/00380385211015563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0385

Abstract

Drawing on 34 semi-structured interviews, this study investigates the temporality of family practices taking place in the hot spot. It does so by looking at how breakfast is inserted in the economy of family time in Italy. Our data show that breakfast, contrary to other meals, allows the adoption of more individualised and asynchronous practices, hinged on the consumption of convenience products. These time-saving strategies are normalised as part of doing family. Although the existing literature suggests that convenience and care are in opposition, and consumers of convenience products can experience anxiety and a lack of personal integrity, such features were not a dominant feature of our participants' accounts. These findings suggest that the dichotomies of hot/cold spots and care/convenience are not always experienced in opposition when embedded within family practices. Hence, this study furthers understandings of family meals, temporality and the distinction between hot and cold spots.