“A Good, Careful Woman”

Abstract

While macro-level studies of surplus accumulation and food storage have dominated anthropological and archaeological discourses (Barton, 2014; Hirth, 1996; Margomenou, 2008:196), this article adopts a micro-social lens, focusing on the household as a key site for understanding everyday food storage practices. Inspired by the works of social anthropological archaeologists (Ingold, 1983; Logan, 2020; Robin, 2013), this study examines how women in two northern Ghanaian communities, Birifoh and Kpatritinga, navigate patriarchal structures to ensure household food security. Moving beyond grand narratives and social evolutionary approaches, this article explores the gendered dimensions of food storage, building upon Ingold’s (1983) social storage model to propose a social model of food security and storage (see also Guyer, 1984). Through ethnographic data, the article highlights the diverse strategies employed by women, from owning granaries and farmlands to leveraging social networks for food access through trade, exchange, gifting, and sharing. By focusing on these everyday practices, the article illuminates the often-overlooked contributions of women to food security and their role in fostering social resilience within their communities.