IS COOKING PERCEIVED AS A GENDERED ACTIVITY BY NU STUDENTS?

Abstract

This study examines the perception of cooking activity among Nazarbayev University students and their families, with a focus on gender as a social construct. Through online surveys and in-depth interviews, the research analyzes differences in cooking behavior between male and female students, as well as their attitudes towards cooking responsibility in relation to their current or ideal partners. The results of the work demonstrated that the kitchen is predominantly viewed as a female space in the families of the students, with males typically only cooking on special occasions. However, the study revealed a trend towards more egalitarian attitudes towards cooking responsibility across generations. This suggests that for students, cooking behavior is driven by personal desire and partner workload rather than gender. Moreover, it was identified that males express and uphold their masculinity through food choices, opting for either simple or complicated meat-centered dishes. The preference for meat-centered dishes within the family may reflect social order and power distribution, indicating male dominance over women in the household, as was discussed by Sobal (2005, p.137). Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of how gender identity can be shaped through cooking among the youth and opens up opportunities for further research on gender roles in culinary practices.