DOI 10.60531/INSIGHTOUT.2023.1.9| PORTEOUS: FOOD, DRINK, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING_ INSIGHTOUT 1(2023)57Although there is not scope here to fully explore thetheoretical implications of the research findings, wenote that feminist scholarship has understandablyproblematised hospitality practices3, which havebeen associated with traditional gender roles thatrelate normative femininity to work in the domesticsphere(and, by association, justify women’s exclusionfrom the public sphere). Our case-study organisationreframed the traditional offering and sharing of foodand drink as a feminist practice and a means of increasing social inclusion.Fig. 1: An illustration of research findings from the project byJenny Caponviality of in-person events, but spoke to how a sense of connection and community was maintainedthrough food and drink. For example, care packagesincluding teabags were posted to attendees of online events, and service users were invited to meet forlunch online via video call.ConclusionThis case study highlights the potential for museumsand community spaces to use hospitality practicesand the rich symbolism of food and drink to welcome visitors and service users, create an atmosphereof inclusivity and mutual support, and to encouragea sense of community in cultural organisations thatcan sometimes be seen as intimidating, especially bythose experiencing vulnerability.3Cf. Maurice Hamington,“Toward a theory of feminist hospitality”,Feminist Formations, 22/1(Spring 2010), 21–38.
