Społeczny wymiar konsumpcji. Wspólne posiłki a kapitał społeczny i sieci relacji
Social dimension of consumption. Common meals vs. social capital and networks of relations

Summary/Abstract: Sociology traditionally accounts for eating in terms of the social organization of meals (their provision and consumption) rather than biological requirements. Looking at eating as a social action, reveals its communicative, symbolic and socializing functions and gets insight into many social mechanisms and phenomena (such as class, power, inequalities, solidarity etc.). Taking this perspective as a starting point, the paper examines the determinants of recreational practices amongst large city dwellers, focusing on being hosts and guests in private homes and eating out. Basing on a data source of individual social networks, it is showed how respondents’ sociability (eating together) is affected not only by their socio-demographic characteristics, but also by the nature of their social networks. Especially, it is argued that there are rather weak and non-kin ties that are more conducive to sociability (under study). The findings suggest that “socialized meals” are an area of social distinction and they contribute to building a social capital.

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