Food Anxieties in Amy Tan’s “Rice Husband” Anonymous College

The historical and cultural association of women as natural caregivers in society goes a long way back in history. Over the centuries, men have often been associated with the outer world (later called the "public sphere") and the provision of the necessary means to survive —whether it is food or an economic income—, while women are associated with closed spaces (the "private sphere") and the nourishment and care of the family (McLean 250). However, this nourishment is not just bodily but also moral. Therefore, the responsibility for society’s stability relies on the efficacy of the female task. Throughout time and history, the female role has changed and adjusted according to the different mindsets of diverse cultures. For instance, in Western traditions, the social and familiar role of women shifted after the feminist movements of the late XIX and the XX century, in which women demanded equal rights and opportunities. The effects of these movements were a transformation of the social perception of women in a wide range of areas, including politics, work, sexuality, and their domestic roles (Burkett). However, the traditions of Western culture differed from those of the East. Eastern, specifically Asian, countries are often...