Rationality

The McDonaldization of Society, by George Ritzer, in Sociological Odyssey, explores how society has become rationalized.  Rationality is emphasized by efficiency, predictability, calculability, substitution of nonhuman technology, and control.  One of the biggest examples of rationality is a fast food restaurant.  A fast food restaurant is efficient, moving customers through in a matter of seconds.  Customers are even able to pull the the drivethrough window, never having to leave their cars.  This is one of the most efficient systems.  Fast food restaurants are also predictable.  When people go in, they expect the same thing every time and receive it.  The menu is small so there is little variation in the product.  Another characteristic is the focus on quantity rather than quality.  McDonald's focuses on how many hamburgers they sell, not how good their burgers are.  There has also been a large substitution of nonhuman technology.  Many processes are now automated, not requiring humans.  This makes the product more predictable.  And even when there are humans working, they are controlled so much that they seem like robots.  They have to follow a strict set of rules.  The final aspect of rationality is control.  The people working in the fast food industry have to follow a strict set of rules.  Restaurants also attempt to control how long customers stay at their establishment, by their lack of waiters and lack of seating.  America, and many other countries, are becoming more rationalized.

Rationalization is an interesting concept.  Rationalization has made much of America extremely homogeneous, we can find the same restaurants anywhere.  Many parts of America look exactly the same.  I think it is a problem that rationalization has taken individuality away from many parts of America.  We are losing our separate identities for different parts of America.  Soon there will be no need to travel to other parts of America because they will all be the same.  I hope that America will continue to have regional identities and not just turn into one big America blob.  These fears lead me to question if:

1.  Will America regions be able to keep their identities with such a push by companies to spread throughout the country and take over?
2.  How have other countries experienced rationalization and will they ever become as rationalized as America?

The Black Obesity Problem

In the article “Fried Chicken and Fresh Apples”, by Noo Oyo A. Kwate, obesity is examined as a reflection of race.  Obesity is much more prevalent in African-American individuals, especially those of lower income.  Kwate argues that this is due to the fast food density in black neighborhoods.  These neighborhoods are a result of racial segregation.  This issue is examined through population characteristics, economic characteristics, physical infrastructure, and social processes.  The population of a black neighborhood is primarily black and African-Americans are targeted by fast food companies.  This is why there are more fast food restaurants in black neighborhoods.  Black neighborhoods are also generally poorer and fast food is a cheap alternative to food.  In terms of economics, there is a poor retail environment in black neighborhoods because of the poverty, and this makes black neighborhoods a good place for fast food restaurants to establish.  In terms of physical infrastructure, residents lack the power to overthrow zoning rules and therefore aren’t able to outlaw fast food restaurants.  There are also social processes that contribute to the high concentration of fast food restaurants in black neighborhoods.  Black neighborhoods have the stigma as a place for undesirables and in our current culture, fast food restaurants are also an undesirable addition to an upper-class white neighborhood.

I found the majority of this article very disturbing.  First of all, it is disturbing that at the present time, fifty years after the Civil Rights movement, there are still black neighborhoods that do not have the same social standing or prestige as their white counterparts.  Because these neighborhoods are seen as lower and less desirable they do not have the same political power as their white counterparts.  This prohibits the neighborhoods from banning fast food restaurants.  This is especially disturbing.  Even if people do not want fast food, they have no way to stop it from entering their neighborhood.  This all helps to contribute to the obesity problem among African-Americans.   It is disturbing that there is a racial divide in obesity, even though everyone in America is supposed to be treated as equals.  This leads me to question:

1.  Will the obesity problem ever be a personal problem, not determined by race or social situation?

2.  Will fast food always be relegated to the poorest, least popular neighborhoods?     

A Republic of Fat

In chapter 6 of Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan explores America as “a republic of fat”.  Pollan begins by showing the similarity of our obsession with fat now to early America’s obsession with alcohol.  In the early 1800s, as America expanded westward into better farmland, there was an abundance of corn, which was turned into cheap liquor.  America’s began to drink nearly five gallons a year, compared to the less than one gallon that people consume now.  This is similar to now.  There is an overabundance of corn, and it is being used to fatten our meat and make fattening processed foods.  A lot of corn is being turned into high fructose corn syrup, which is used to sweeten food.  Americans consume the most high fructose corn syrup through soda.  Soda has grown from 8 ounces to 20 ounces, as Americans demanded more soda.  This is known as supersizing.  Americans want more food but don’t want to pay for two sodas or two burgers.  Companies began making food bigger and charging more for it.  Another problem with the processed food in America is that it is very energy dense.  For people with diabetes, the body is not able to process this extra glucose.  Many problems have led to the obesity epidemic in America. 

The amount of obesity in America is exceptionally disturbing.  According to Pollan, it is expected that one in three children born in 2000 will be overweight.  Americans really need to think about what they are eating and if it is really good for them.  People cannot keep eating hamburgers and other forms of fast food and expect to live healthy lives.  The problem is that this food is much cheaper than healthy, whole foods.  I think there has to be a change in our society, where healthy food becomes less expensive than fast food.  While this would cost the government a lot of money right now, in the long run, it would save on healthcare and other costs related to the unhealthiness of the American population.  This leads me to question:

         1.       Will Americans ever become healthy or return to a healthy way of eating?

         2.       Will the government take a stand and begin to subsidize healthier food that is better for the American public?