Social Factors that Influence Use of Corn by Housewives

Abstract

Corn, in addition to being an essential food in the national gastronomy, is an identity component of culture and a pillar of society in Mexico. However, despite being so deeply rooted in the population, the change in lifestyles can cause cultural erosion that seriously affects its conservation. The objective of this research work was to identify the social factors that influence the use of corn in a female sample from the city of Campeche to know the current status of the appreciation of this food, both of its biological properties as a food and a medicinal plant as its cultural role in traditions. It was found that corn is a highly appreciated food and consumed on important dates and as a basic ingredient in traditional dishes, but there is a lack of knowledge about biological aspects such as the difference between Creole and transgenic corn and the various varieties of corn that fulfill different functions culturally speaking. For this reason, the nutritional and medicinal properties of corn must be disseminated, because they constitute a solid base to promote the defense of corn and to encourage the use of native varieties of corn.