The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis is set against the backdrop of the rigorous world of academic education. In early chapters, the pecking order of Olive’s world is laid out. Tenured professors like Adam are at the top, and grad students like Olive are at the bottom. Olive and Adam’s relationship crosses several academic boundaries, and since Adam is the elite among the elite, it opens doors for Olive that would otherwise remain closed to someone so low on the food chain. Tom exploits this idea later when he threatens Olive and tells her she only received attention because she’s dating Adam. Tom’s words are not true, as gatekeeping methods like blind submission processes where papers are read anonymously are put in place to offer those in the lower ranks a fairer chance.

Anh represents another angle of academia. Historically, women—particularly women of color—have been underrepresented and excluded from opportunities in academia afforded their white (typically male) counterparts. Anh is the only BIPOC person in her class and, aside from Olive, the only woman. Anh’s work to promote the voices of women and the BIPOC community in academia symbolizes the real-life efforts being made toward a more inclusive education system for all. As someone familiar with the rigors of academia, Hazelwood drew upon her own experiences, as well as from those of friends, to create a realistic depiction of the struggles facing graduate students—from discrimination to low pay and ridiculous hours. Realistic feelings of accomplishment and joy help to make the rigors worthwhile.