Cameron Zwierlein, Chapman University
Spring 5-2026
First Advisor: Joanna Levin
Second Advisor Lynda Hall
Third Advisor: Rei Magosaki
Abstract
This thesis examines representations of female food refusal across Wuthering Heights, Play It As It Lays, “Los Angeles,” and The Vegetarian, arguing that restrictive food behavior extends beyond individual psychology to function as a culturally embedded form of protest. Drawing on Susan Bordo’s theoretical framework, this thesis looks at the female body as a site disciplined by patriarchal norms, where the refusal of food becomes a paradoxical act that simultaneously resists and reproduces systems of control. Through the characters of Catherine, Maria, Alice, and Yeong-hye, these texts depict food refusal as a symbolic language used in contexts where conventional forms of agency are constrained or silenced.
Despite differences in historical and cultural context, these works converge in portraying anorectic behaviors as both an assertion of autonomy and an internalization of oppressive ideals surrounding femininity and control. This duality reveals the inherent contradictory nature of food refusal. It operates as a form of protest against patriarchal expectations while also enacting self-erasure. Ultimately, this thesis argues that such acts of resistance are limited in their transformative potential, as they often culminate in further alienation, exploitation, or even death. By situating these narratives within a broader cultural and theoretical context, this thesis demonstrates how female food refusal demonstrates a complex, yet ultimately unsustainable, negotiation of female identity, agency, and power.
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