The domestic space in the professional cuisine of women school cooks: persistence of gender norms and social expectations

Abstract

This essay discusses how the domestic space plays a fundamental role in mediating women's relationship with cooking, even when this activity is practiced professionally, with a specific focus on the experience of women school cooks. Although these professionals play a crucial role in preparing school meals, it is clear that their culinary practices are deeply rooted in their domestic experiences, with values, traditions and culinary skills learned at home directly influencing their approach to preparing school meals. This continuity between the domestic space and the work environment demonstrates the persistence of gender norms and social expectations as mediators of female culinary activity, even in professional contexts. In this sense, it is considered necessary to understand the existence of these links but also to legitimize the culinary work carried out by these women as subject to professional recognition.