The violence behind the food industry: McDonald’s Homework Help

The violence behind the food industry: McDonald’s
Modern business environment is sophisticated and competitive. Therefore, business firms are obliged to embrace appropriate business strategies that would enhance their sustainability in the markets. In the global markets, business firms and organizations are faced with a great deal of challenges including violence. McDonald’s is one of the firms in the big food industry that has experienced various forms of violence over time. The firm has persistently created most of friendly and attractive advertisement to show the community that they are socially responsible, but the fact is that they just want you to see what they want you to see. Behind these big food industry, these company are constantly involve in using child labor outside of Canada, exploiting worker, damaging health of people and causing social violence (Jerome 71).
Zizek’s violence theory
Violence is an inescapable thing in the modern life. It troubles individuals, group of individuals and the society as a whole. Violence is random and irrational. As argued by Valenti? (1), violence is incomprehensible. In most cases, many people believe that violence entails physical force. However, this is not always the case as argued by Slavoj Zizek in his book Violence. The author of the book believes that violence originates from the system itself and reflects the nature of multicultural societies. Zizek draws on a number of inspirational ideologies such as Lacanian and Marxism. Zizek also argues that violence is common tenet of global capitalism. It does not always refer to activity but passivity can also be a form of violence. Zizek violence theory condemns common perception of violence as presented in media. Zizek violence theory stipulates three main types of violence namely symbolic, systematic and subjective violence, all of which have featured in various business organizations of the modern time including McDonald’s.
Systematic Violence at McDonald’s
According to Jerome (71), every society is in a way founded on violence. Zizek violence theory supports that every human community has a claim of violence. This suggestion is also overemphasized by Max Weber and Hannah Arendt. In the paradigm case, the firm has experienced sort of systematic violence. There are numerous reported cases of exploitation of workers in the firm. Workers of McDonald’s are paid low wages as compared to other key players in the big food industry. They do not receive extra money for overtime jobs. In some locations, employees of the company are treated so badly because of the fact that they have limited job opportunities hence do not have alternatives to being exploited. Employees are forced to work for long hours in order to meet the production demands of the company. The firm has persistently opposed workers’ rights and unions. As such, it is impossible for them to fight for better deals ((Jerome 72)
Symbolic Violence at McDonald’s
McDonald’s have adopted various practices that are geared towards enabling it operate easily in the global markets. The organization advocates for sameness as a fulfillment of social responsibility. As such, the firm has relentlessly perpetuates a built environment where all people are treated equally. However, the firm has been driven by the motive to realize financial profit. In the recent past, the firm adopted theme-ing techniques that has created carnival-like shopping atmosphere among certain class of customers or stakeholders. This technique has been embraced by the firm as a way of making some of its products appealing to certain class of customers. In effect, this has adversely affected sense of sameness. Based on the Zizek’s violence theory, McDonald’s is propagating discrimination by class, which is a form of violence. The company is ever keen on the kind of workforce it has. There are certain job positions that are preserved for either males or females. By doing so, the firm has been propagating gender discrimination (Jerome 74).
Damage Generation
With intensification of competition, different firms in the big food industry have devised new ways of attracting and retaining customers. McDonalds’ is one of the key players that have been investing in product and service development in order to gain entry to different global markets. In the recent past, the firm has had tough time giving customers what they want. In an attempt to meet the demands of new generation, the firm is offering highest-calorie menu items. For instance, the firm offers the 550 calorie Big Mac, the 1,150-calorie big breakfast with hotcakes and the McMega Potato – A 1,142 calorie. These food stuffs pose a great deal of healthy challenges. Somewhat, it offers no healthful choices for its customers. McDonald has also conducted massive advertisement in an attempt to attract and retain large number of customers. According to Kristine (76), this has influences young people to acquire products beyond their means hence causing financial problems both to themselves, their families and the society large. Every firm in the competitive food industry is constantly trying to build and protect its image. As such, McDonalds’ has had the tendency of hiding its negative side. For instance, the company has been conducting massive advertisement on its high-calorie food items indicating its value to customers but failing to reveal their negative health effects. It has been promoting its food as nutritious; however, it is far from being healthy or nutritious food. The reality is that its food has various negative effects on human body. The firm has also been conducting various charities, which are aimed at promoting well being of the public and its customers. Through these charities, the firm is promoting its unhealthy products that adversely the well being of the new generation.
Marketing
Competition in the big food industry has forced firms to invest great deal of their resources in marketing. Like other large firms, McDonald’s has been spending billions on marketing and promotions in an attempt to cultivate an image of good social responsibility. The firm has been found guilty of luring children with the promise gimmicks behind the sad reality. The firm has been marketing its food as nutritious and healthy; however, most of its processed junk foods are unhealthy. Their fast food contains numerous chemical additives which may cause serious health problems among consumers. Studies show that consumers of these foods are likely to experience heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, short life expectancy and cancer among other illnesses. McDonald’s marketing and advertising activities are misleading, and this amounts to violence (Kristine 77).

Works Cited
Barthold, C. “Violence: Capitalism, Language and Physical Force.” Journal of Critical Globalisation Studies, 5 (2012): 172-174. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.criticalglobalisation.com/issue5/173_175_VIOLENCE_CAPITALISM_JCGS5.pdf>
Jerome, Kristine. “A Case of McDonald’s Restaurant the Built Environment and the Perpetuation of the Phenomenon of Globalisation.” New Zealand: Wellington, 2007). Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://eprints.qut.edu.au/15580/1/15580.pdf>