Feasts of Resistance:

The Role of Food in Shaping Feminist Cultural Discourse

Abstract

This paper explores the multifaceted representations of food as a symbolic medium in
constructing and negotiating female identities, tracing the lineage from mythological narratives
to postmodern feminist texts. By delving into the thematic intersections of food symbolism and
female agency within a broad spectrum of literature, the arts, and media, the study elucidates
how culinary motifs articulate power dynamics, social politics, and resistance movements. It
engages with Vandana Shiva’s critique of global food politics in Stolen Harvest: The
Hijacking of the Global Food Supply (2000), and Michaela DeSoucey’s analysis of culinary
resistance in Contested Tastes: Foie Gras and the Politics of Food (2016). Furthermore, it
highlights the contributions of Jessica B. Harris in High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey
from Africa to America (2011), illustrating the profound connection between gastronomy,
identity politics, and the feminist movement. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the
research juxtaposes mythological depictions of women as nurturers and providers with
postmodern representations that challenge and subvert traditional roles through culinary
metaphors. It highlights the evolution of female identities from passive subjects of mythic lore
to active agents of feminist resistance, underscoring the transformative power of food imagery
in articulating and contesting gender norms. Furthermore, it examines how contemporary
feminist narratives harness the symbolism of food to critique societal structures, thereby
reinforcing the connection between gastronomy and the politics of identity. By analyzing the
contributions of scholars like Carole Counihan, and Penny Van Esterik in Food and Culture:
A Reader (2013) and the critical perspectives offered by Arlene Voski Avakian and Barbara
Haber in From Betty Crocker to Feminist Food Studies (2005), the article reveals the
nuanced ways food serves as a vehicle for exploring and asserting female identities across
temporal and cultural divides. It contributes to the broader discourse on gender, power, and
resistance by showcasing the enduring relevance of food symbolism in the ongoing struggle for
female autonomy and empowerment.