Agency, Access and Action: Reimagining the role of older adults in the food justice movement

Abstract

This dissertation explores the overlooked role of older adults in the food justice movement, examining how community food organizations mediate the relationship between access to food and supporting agency in later life. While food justice efforts often emphasize equity and the right to food “for all,” the role that older adults play in this is not well understood, despite their increasing reliance on emergency food services. Through a three-article format, this study addresses this gap. The first article offers a narrative review, synthesizing the pathways, barriers, and contributions of older adults in the food justice movement. This initial exploratory paper argues for more intentional inclusion of older adults in food justice scholarship and practice. The second article draws on a community-based survey to examine how community food organizations shape older adults’ perceived food choice and control, revealing a conceptual tension between choice and agency. The third article also draws on this survey data, focusing on collective agency and exploring how community organizations might support older adults in becoming agents of social change rather than passive food recipients. The study findings suggest that while older adults may experience increased confidence and food access through community programs, structural limitations often hinder their capacity to act on that confidence in instituting broader food system change. This dissertation contributes to knowledge by clarifying the distinction between choice and agency in food contexts, reimagining aging as a site of political possibility, and positioning community organizations as key actors in enabling food justice that is both equitable and inclusive across the life course.