Fome tem gênero, classe e cor: interseccionalidade e a insegurança alimentar de residentes em uma moradia estudantil universitária

Abstract

Brazil is facing an alarming scenario of food insecurity, having returned to the hunger map in 2022. Factors such as the Bolsonaro administration's policies and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated this reality, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups such as women, Black individuals, heads of households, and those with low income and education levels. Intersectionality becomes crucial in understanding how systemic and structural oppressions intersect, perpetuating hunger and social inequality. Despite the legal guarantee of food and nutritional security and the inclusion of the right to food as a basic social right, hunger persists, intertwined with other violations. The interconnection between food insecurity and educational attainment is one of the country's most severe problems, transcending the pandemic. Education, a crucial tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting food security, faces additional barriers to higher education retention, especially for historically marginalized groups striving to achieve equality and dignity. This complex web of inequalities, as evidenced by the relationship between food insecurity, access to higher education, and intersectionality, demands a thorough analysis of food security among vulnerable groups within the university environment. This research aims to understand how university students residing in student housing perceive and experience food insecurity within the university. The study is centered on the student housing of a federal university in southern Minas Gerais. Specifically, the study aims to: 1) Describe the policies aimed at Food Security at the university from an institutional perspective; 2) Identify the characteristics of the group of students in socioeconomic vulnerability, residing in student housing; 3) Explore the perceptions and experiences of food insecurity among students residing in student housing; and 4) Relate food insecurity to intersectional issues of gender, race, and class among students in socioeconomic vulnerability in student housing. Therefore, this is a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study that consists of document searches on student assistance services, the application of a questionnaire, the conduct of a focus group, and the analysis of the results through Thematic Content Analysis with the aid of NVIVO software. The research identified the presence of hunger within the university, highlighting the insufficiency of institutional policies to combat disparities. University students face unique challenges in maintaining their presence and food security. The study concluded that broader and more comprehensive public policies, which consider intersectionality and the specific needs of marginalized groups, are necessary to ensure the retention of students in socioeconomic vulnerability and promote equity in access to education and food security. Suggestions for actions and improvements to enhance the material and immaterial retention of students in socioeconomic vulnerability are presented, aiming for a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible university experience.The results were shared and presented to the target audience, who expressed interest in continuing the proposals developed here. This process highlights the colaborativa nature of the work, emphasizing the voice and needs of the involved audience.