Hunger on Campus: Breaking the Stigma
The Fight Against Food Insecurity for College Students
November 9, 2020 - By Melissa Hernandez
While most of America is fortunate enough to have second and third helpings this Thanksgiving, there is one unexpected group of individuals who struggle to find a first helping every single day: college students, specifically non-traditional college students.
On one hand, the typical college student may feel annoyed having to sit through class for several hours. However, on the other hand, there are non-traditional students who suffer from food insecurity that struggle to get through class altogether. With the rising cost of tuition, the seemingly never-ending burden of student loans and the empty bank accounts non-traditional students face after paying for rent, tuition, and books, it is almost impossible to budget for personal meals on a daily basis.
Food insecurity has the potential to threaten these college students’ ability to achieve their educational and professional goals. According to a 2018 Government Accountability Office report, 71% of non-traditional students are individuals who are enrolled part-time, work full-time while in school, are caretakers for dependents, and/or did not receive a traditional high school diploma. Additionally, these non-traditional college students are enrolling into school later than students in the past, with the average overall age being 26. For this reason, there are many college students balancing schoolwork with parenting, with 22% of students caring for child dependents and 14% doing so as single parents. When these factors are combined with the rising cost of education, many adult students are struggling to make ends meet.
Campus food pantries have become lifelines and the donations of strangers have become essential to student survival, but is it enough?
What is Food Insecurity?
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a “lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life” (USDA, 2020).
The USDA divides food insecurity into the following two categories:
- Low food security: “Reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.”
- Very low food security: “Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.”
Access to quality, healthy food is important to human life. Reliable access to food can have positive impacts to college students, including: economic growth and creation of jobs.
The Stigma
Stigma is the greatest challenge in the fight against food insecurity. The stigma leads students to believe they will be judged by their peers, or that administrations are scared to acknowledge problems at their universities. Among the many struggling with food insecurity, few wish to be identified, fearing the shame and ridicule that comes with poverty, and having less.
Causes of Food Insecurity
Food insecurity among non-traditional students can be caused by many factors, including:
- Worrying that food will run out
- Purchasing food that goes bad too quickly and not being able to afford more
- Eating less than desired in order to save it
- Not eating for fear of running out of food
- Not being able to afford balanced meals
Mix with the stress of course work, this is the experience for many college students.
Part of what makes food insecurity among college students so difficult to solve is the underlying causes such as poverty, unemployment/under-employment and inconsistent access to enough healthy food. Food insecurity simply adds more stress to a non-traditional student that may already be dealing with instability and unpredictability.
Effects
Aside from the rising cost of tuition, one bad day can be enough to plunge a student into food insecurity. Global pandemics, lay-offs at work, unexpected car maintenance or unexpected deaths can suddenly force a student to choose between buying food and paying bills.
Depending on each individual’s circumstances, food insecurity can impact college students in a variety of common, yet complex, ways including:
- Academic and athletic performance
- Increased chances of dropping out
- Serious health complications, especially when forced to decide on how to budget money
In 2018, Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, a student poverty research center, surveyed 43,000 students at 66 institutions, including both 2-year and 4-year schools. According to the article, more than 1 in 3 students have experience with low food security and more than 20% rated very low food security, which essentially means chronic malnutrition.
It is difficult to perform well in class when you missed your last meal and are unsure of where the next one is coming from. The brain needs proper nutrition and a good energy supply. The brain makes up only 2% of an individual's body weight, but it burns more than 20% of the calories one takes in.
Get Involved
It is difficult to think about all the hard-working students who go to class without a meal on a daily basis. They work so hard only to come home to so little. However, there are ways to help:
- Join a social media campaign
- Start a fundraiser
- Provide a home-cooked meal
- Donate and/or volunteer at a campus food pantry
- Advocate for students and destigmatize food insecurity
More than Food
I am currently navigating through my third year of college as a 28 year old single mother of two with first hand experience of food insecurity. I understand being forced to decide between providing for my daughters over myself. So, when I reenrolled into college it was difficult to make ends meet because I wanted to provide my family with a better future. For me, it is more than just food. I struggle emotionally as well. With the stigma, and lack of awareness, reaching out seems daunting. Things became increasing difficult when the COVID - 19 pandemic started. I had little knowledge of my resources and had to step outside my comfort zone to continue towards academic success for my daughters.
I was fortunate enough to say that giving up was not an option for me. Upon seeking resources, I found that Cal State LA has a food pantry that is completely free to enrolled students. For non-tradition students like me, this was a sign of relief. Without the campus pantry, I am not sure how I would feed my family.
To those struggling with food insecurity in college, know that you are not alone. It is okay to not be okay. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.
References
FOOD INSECURITY: Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits. (2020). Retrieved 1 November 2020, from https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696254.pdf
Goldrick-Rab, S. (2018). STILL HUNGRY AND HOMELESS IN COLLEGE. Retrieved 1 November 2020, from https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Wisconsin-HOPE-Lab-Still-Hungry-and-Homeless.pdf
USDA ERS - Definitions of Food Security. (2020). Retrieved 1 November 2020, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment