Neurofeminism: Atwood Discusses Neurofeminist Issues of Consumerism and Cannibalism in the Edible Woman

Abstract

Abstract: As neuroscience grows in its ability to appeal to the masses, it becomes more common to turn to it as an authority on various questions about how people shouldn't and should behave. This is especially evident with the issue of gender roles. The Edible Woman explores women's inability to eat and relationship distress, but was published at a time when the psychology of eating disorders was not often discussed. Margaret Atwood s The Edible Woman tells the story of a young woman struggling with society, her lover and food. It is often discussed as the first work of feminism. The novel's idea of consumption operates on a symbolic level. This novel explores themes of sexuality and consumerism in a layered, somewhat flamboyant style. As for the thematic exploration of the novel, the tendency of self-starvation becomes a way to express the hope of society. She feels constant pressure to conform to her dislikes, which affects her ability to eat and puts her life at risk. At the very least, neurofeminism critiques the portrayal of neuroscience in the popular media through the behaviour of Marian MacAlpin. This article provides an overview of the neurofeminist debate and current approaches to feminist neuroscience. The author concludes her review by calling for a more gender-appropriate research approach that takes into account the location and reflection within a neuroscientific framework, as well as questioning neurofeminist discourse on the use and misuse of the concept of wearing a fake smile and a red dress. Through this character of Marian McAlpin, Atwood cleverly shows that the pressure placed on women by society can have severe negative effects on their bodies and psyches. Our goal here is to examine the phenomena of neurosexism and neurofeminism using a primarily literary approach that incorporates insights from philosophy of mind, ethics, and feminist literature.