Binge-eating, Emotional Eating, and Fat Stigma in Erin Jade Lange’s Butter
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Abstract
This paper examines Erin Jade Lange’s Butter through the lens of the "docile body" concept by Michel Foucault. It highlights the complex interaction between body politics, societal norms, and psychological turmoil. Lange’s novel focuses on this issue through the presentation of Butter, an obese teenager who plans to eat himself on a live broadcast, to reflect the pervasive impact of fat shaming, binge eating, and emotional neglecting as well as isolation. Relying heavily on Foucault's concept, the analysis shows how Butter's body becomes a site for both resistance and submission. It reveals the unjust reality of societal norms of beauty and health that are used to discipline teenagers' bodies. Lange’s novel critiques societal beauty standards, body shaming, and fat stigma, revealing how bodies become objects of scrutiny and control. Lange's portrayal underscores the devastating consequences of unchallenged societal norms while suggesting the complexities of resistance within the constraints of body politics. Ultimately, the study calls for a reevaluation of cultural attitudes towards fatness and individuality, advocating for empathy and inclusivity.
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