In "Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body," Roxane Gay discusses the experiences of upper-middle-class girls who attend boarding schools as a means of escape. This choice represents a complex response to familial or societal pressures, allowing these girls to seek autonomy and a new environment outside of their traditional homes. The boarding school experience becomes a significant turning point, providing a space for transformation.

Gay's reflection hints at the deeper implications of such institutions in shaping identity and personal growth amid diverse challenges. It illustrates the nuanced ways in which privileged individuals might navigate their struggles while highlighting boarding school as both a refuge and a place of confrontation with their internal conflicts.