The Invisible Backpack: a Techno-Ethical Analysis of the Stigma and Shame Associated with Accessing Food Banks in the Netherlands

Abstract To better understand the reasons behind why people who need food bank assistance are reluctant to approach them, we critically analysed the challenges in accessing food banks through quantitative analysis and qualitative interviews. Our study reveals a wide-ranging gap across food banks in terms of the number of people who might need food bank assistance and the people who currently approach them, and also confirms stigma and shame as the primary factors that are currently keeping people under the radar. After analysing the challenges associated with accessing food banks, we propose technological and ethical measures steeped in trust, privacy, and dignity for addressing these challenges.