Guo 1
GW-2: Option 2 Analysis of Two Articles
Our group chose to work on option two whose prompt was: Critically analyze both
articles. We decided to go with option two after looking at the articles which were quite
impressive and interesting to most of the group members. Robin Fox’s anthropological approach
on the food discussion was particularly intriguing and informed our decision to pick option two.
We thought it would be informative and fun to analyze, compare, and criticize both articles.
Below is our final thoughts on both and a brief reflection towards the end.
Food is a primary need in the animal kingdom. In deed most animals, humans included,
cannot survive longer than a few days without the required supply of nutrition through feeding.
Robin Fox, in her article, Food and Eating: An Anthropological Perspective explores how food
as a necessity has evolved to intertwine with mating in animals and courting in human beings.
The link between food and sex has generally tightened as we have moved along the sequence of
evolution (Fox 1). Although food and a partner’s, mostly a male partner, ability to provide it
began as an element of survivor in animals, it has outgrown this primary purpose and ventured
deep into emotional functions of our brains. According to Fox, food, in modern society, occupies
a bigger social role than before. It has become an indicator of many social characteristics. But is
this really the case? Fox’s position is partly true; however, to the extent that food’s social role
might override its primary role as a basic human need is debatable. Biological remnants of
evolution might linger for a while but eventually they become obsolete and disposable. Food as
an important social element, especially in romantic relations, is a biological remnant of evolution
that will soon have to give way to new order of things.
Continuing on this path of the position of food in the social arena is Dr. Aviva Romm’s
article, Women and Food Relationship, which from a nutritionist’s expertise, argues that when
women struggle with weight loss and suffer low self-esteem as a result, it is really their
GW-2: Option 2 Analysis of Two Articles
Our group chose to work on option two whose prompt was: Critically analyze both
articles. We decided to go with option two after looking at the articles which were quite
impressive and interesting to most of the group members. Robin Fox’s anthropological approach
on the food discussion was particularly intriguing and informed our decision to pick option two.
We thought it would be informative and fun to analyze, compare, and criticize both articles.
Below is our final thoughts on both and a brief reflection towards the end.
Food is a primary need in the animal kingdom. In deed most animals, humans included,
cannot survive longer than a few days without the required supply of nutrition through feeding.
Robin Fox, in her article, Food and Eating: An Anthropological Perspective explores how food
as a necessity has evolved to intertwine with mating in animals and courting in human beings.
The link between food and sex has generally tightened as we have moved along the sequence of
evolution (Fox 1). Although food and a partner’s, mostly a male partner, ability to provide it
began as an element of survivor in animals, it has outgrown this primary purpose and ventured
deep into emotional functions of our brains. According to Fox, food, in modern society, occupies
a bigger social role than before. It has become an indicator of many social characteristics. But is
this really the case? Fox’s position is partly true; however, to the extent that food’s social role
might override its primary role as a basic human need is debatable. Biological remnants of
evolution might linger for a while but eventually they become obsolete and disposable. Food as
an important social element, especially in romantic relations, is a biological remnant of evolution
that will soon have to give way to new order of things.
Continuing on this path of the position of food in the social arena is Dr. Aviva Romm’s
article, Women and Food Relationship, which from a nutritionist’s expertise, argues that when
women struggle with weight loss and suffer low self-esteem as a result, it is really their
