Blog #6

This video shows a little girl grocery shopping; look at the colorful packages at her level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4SmZjP_NmM

EXTRA CREDIT PORTION OF BLOG

Let me just start off by first addressing the extra credit. I went to the store and walked down two aisles, just TWO aisles, that was all it took for me to completely fill out the list for corn or soybean ingredients. I was amazed at just how many products were made from these ingredients, and most of the items didn’t just have one of the ten listed, they had like two or three. These findings reveal what we’ve been talking about in class, as one may put it “Corn is talking over our lives.” It controls what we eat, it makes up what we eat, and it is what we are eating.  I don’t think I picked up one item that didn’t have corn or soybean ingredients in it. Granted I was in the middle aisles and it’s true what people say, that the only “real” food is on the “outside” of the shelves.

Shopping as the “Other”

                It’s hard for me to say what items are being marketed to myself, when I was little my mom did all the shopping and cooking so I didn’t pay any attention but now that I’m older I usually only shop on the “outside” of the store.  I don’t ever walk down the aisles unless there’s something I know I need. Marketing is huge and they know how to sell products, if I were to walk down the aisles I would be tempted by all the “fun” looking food. I feel it’s typically easier to make and is filled with flavor due to unhealthy preservatives. However if I was still a child shopping with my mom, I would want so many things. Skippy, the peanut butter brand which is typically targeted to children is on a lower shelf. The shelf schematics are purposely done, placing Skippy on a lower shelf which is at eye level for children.  Even when you are standing in like waiting to check out, if you are a child the candy is once again right there staring you in the face.  Comparing the two list as myself now at 21, or if I was a child is drastically different. Look at the images below, the first are my list now; the second is my list if I were a child.

MY LIST:

KID LIST:

The differences between are two lists are HUGE. The kid list is filled with colorful packaging, designed to catch their eyes while my list is boring and just the food. Fruits and vegetables are not in fun packages, they are simply just fruits and vegetables. Although during the holiday season they sometimes have caramel apples to appeal to children, which is the only time they ever have caramel apples pre-made. No wonder children have poor eating habits and Americans are becoming obese. The packaging limits the choices kids have because they are so distracted by it. Learning at a young age what it healthy and what is not is important but with corporations knowing exactly how to target children is ruining are chances at a healthy society.

            Big time corporations don’t care what they are selling as long as they are selling it. They just want to make a profit and they know that parents tend to spoil their kids when out grocery shopping, according to Mintel International Group data. Granted this data shows that dads are most likely to purchase unhealthy treats for their children while shopping, it still shows that for both men and women, their children are the main influencers when at the grocery store.

Blog #5

The consumer freedom video has an interesting take on what it is they are doing. They were created in 1996 to counter activist groups who are telling us how to live our lives. These different groups vary from PETA to HSUS to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. He points out these groups “extreme agendas” and their “misdirection,” although some of his points I do see I feel as if he is doing the same thing all the other groups are doing. He is telling us how to think and how to feel when he’s talking about these groups.

**PETA Photo- Ink not Mink, a little ironic because “black tattoo ink is made from burnt animal bones.” (Although not all ink is made from animal bones, unless you know to ask your tattoo artist odds are it probably was made from animal bones) “Also, animal rights activists and vegans who don’t want any animal products in their ink can only use Starbrite inks, as all other brands use animal glycerin’s instead of vegetable ones.” 

With that being said I do see some of his points and how that can relate to the topics we have been talking about in class. He states that although the Center for Consumer Freedom believes individuals should be healthy and active, he doesn’t think the government should be able to control it. By placing bans on salted food and raising the tax price for unhealthy items like soda pop. In class we have talked about the control the government has on the supermarket, with all the fruits and vegetables we see. We discuss apples a lot and how even though there are a bundle of different types of apples we are only shown and able to choose from the best looking apples around. This shows a lack of consumer freedom.

In the book, Stuffed and Starved, Raj Patel talks about how unless you are a corporate food executive; the food system isn’t working for you. He also goes in to explain that 6 billion fall into the category of rural poor who depend on agriculture for their own livelihood – these would be the starved. While affluent individuals – the stuffed, may be stuffed but still starving from lack of actual nutrition. This correlates with the CCF video because in the video he is trying to make a point that the groups don’t really care about you as a person, yes they may want your money but really they are out there for supporting themselves and their own hidden agendas.

Consumption is capable of shaping the market; it has shaped how the market is today. We buy what’s in front of us, what’s convenient. Although there are other options like the Farmers Market, which has fresh food typically that came straight from the garden. If more people shopped at Farmers Markets and stopped going to the supermarkets, the stores would feel a hurt from it but in order for that to work more people than less would have to take a stroll to the Farmers Market maybe 20 miles away rather than the store which is only maybe 5 miles.

Here is a video link of Raj Patel discussing his book Stuffed and Starved, it’s a little long but it gives a good oversight of the book. This video is really enticing to watch because at least for myself, it made me feel more connected to the book.

http://fora.tv/2008/05/16/Raj_Patel_Discusses_Stuffed_and_Starved

The first main point he talks about is soy and how global soy really is. He talks about the slaves used to help push the price of soy down. He ask “who wins from how we grow food today,” who’s making the money. Not the workers, not the store suppliers but four or five major corporations. Although this video is long, it is worth watching.

Blog #4

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 – Did it really work???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTYZPuk3D8

Rep. Miller talking about the Equal Paycheck along with the new Paycheck Fairness Act!

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 came from a multitude of events. When WWII struck back in the 1940’s, the National Labor  Board encouraged employers to employee female since so many men were sent off to fight. Once the men came back the women were pushed out of the workforce. This was when the Rosie the Riveter  iconic image was created.  Until the early 1960’s employers published job listing for men and women seperately. “Help Wanted – Male.”  The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to pay men and women differently for similar work.

The women went on strike, creating signs saying “Equal Pay –NOW!” and “Equal Work Deserves Equal Pay.”  These women pushed the fact that they stepped in when America needed it most, they proved they could do the same work as men yet they’re still not receiving equal pay.

These protest took place in the streets and infront of companies were these women felt they were being underpaid. They disrupted business by causing a scene.

Unfortunately, I’d say this Equal Pay Act even with the women’s support didn’t really work.  In 1960’s women earned 59 cents for every 64 cents a man made. There were two court cases that really brought this issue to the table even after the law was already established. One was Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. and another was Corning Glass Works v. Brennan. In one case the employer argued “simply because men would not work at the low rates paid women.”

Here is when women really started to take a stand. Although women in society pushed for the Equal Pay Act, even today with the Obama as President he has put emphasis on the unfairness of unequal pay. He stated “ Equal pay is by no means just a women’s issue- it’s a family issue… And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month’s paycheck to simple discrimination.”

As of now women are still fighting for our equal payrights, although we start out with the same pay as men. It is said that men advance faster and to higher up positions with better pay. Even recently a Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act has been put into place because one women, Lilly Ledbetter fought for her rights to regain they pay she missed out on. This is just one more way women are fighting this injustice. The nest course of action for equal pay between races is the Paycheck Fairness Act which would be a much needed revision of the 1963, Equal Pay Act.

This movement I have heard about but never really took time to research, after learning more about this topic and how unfair pay in our society still is today I’m baffled. We live in a place that is prided about the American dream, equal opportunity for everyone but something as simple as gender trashes that ideal of American culture.

Since 1963, after the Equal Pay Act was signed the wage gap has been cosing at a rate about half a penny each year. Although this is progress there is still work that needs to be done.  It’s very sad, half a penny each year is such a microscopical amount. That’s maybe four more cents a day, if you work an eight hour day.  

This can relate to what we have been talking about in class recently with the unfair wages going to farmers in third world countries. Their unfair pay has led to many downfalls in the third world countries. Suicides, hunger, and debt have all been created due to unfair wages. Corporations don’t care about the middle man or even the little guy they just want to make as much money as possible for themselves and that’s it.

Both issues boil down to a simple statement made by Patel,

 “The problem is one of power and control”.

 Here are more images of the women's equal rights strike.