#7 Bibliography

Fairburn, Christopher G. and Kelly D. Brownell. Eating Disorders and Obesity. NY: The Guilford Press, 2002.

Matthews, John R. Eating Disorders. NY: Facts on File, 1991.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Wilson, Andrea. “Fast Food F.A.C.T.S.” Targeted Marketing. (2012): http://fastfoodmarketing.org/media/FastFoodFACTS_TargetedMarketing.pdf

Wykes, Maggie and Barrie Gunter. The Media and Body Image: If Looks Could Kill. London; Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE, 2005.

#6 The Monsanto Monopoly

            The Monsanto Company is an American multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation that holds its place as the leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, as well as the leading producer of genetically engineered seed, both marketing under the name of Roundup products. This company was one of the first to actually genetically modify a plant cell, the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops, and was even awarded the Nobel Prize in 2001 for Chemistry for the research done on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation. The Monsanto Company also brought into agriculture the standard biotechnology industry business model, in which “patent” rights are vital and mean everything. These patents allow the company to continuously reap the benefits of its biotech research and therefore, allow it to maintain the financial success that it is today. As a company, Monsanto claims to be compassionate and supportive of the under-appreciated hard-working American farmer, but who is the man behind the company?

            While claiming to be a protector with selfless intentions, Monsanto has long been suing and bankrupting these “under-appreciated” and “hard-working” farmers around the world. The same small wholesome farmers and families he advertises pictures of to represent his company. He uses the framing of the honest all-American man in overalls to distract from the fact that the Monsanto Company is really just a profit hungry chemical cooperation. He wants his consumers to envision that by buying his products they are helping these people. However, in reality buying his products is actually helping to destroy these people and their farms. Looking into further research, I found that this disgusting reputation was repeatedly verified. Countless documentaries, court cases, and families who were victimized are spreading the word about being attacked and robbed of everything they had by Monsanto. He has truly taken the concept of a monopoly and has taken it to its full effect, and it needs to be stopped.

#5 Real Men Wear Pink

            In this group blog about women and the media, “Make-up and Hot Pink Toenails – Not Just a Girl Thing”, Melanie Klein addresses the issue of stereotypical femininity and, more specifically, masculinity. In mainstream pop culture, an intense amount of pressure is placed on girls; however it sometimes goes unnoticed that boys have many pressures of their own. There is an expectation to look, dress, act a certain way, as well as have a specific category of interests. Sadly, any further curiosity into what might be considered to be “feminine” interests is resulted in extreme judgment – and, sometimes, further more degrading punishment. Klein gives the examples that “a 17-month-old boy is beaten to death for being too “girly,” a 5-year-old is accused of being gay for choosing to dress up like Daphne from Scooby-Doo for Halloween, a boy who likes pink dresses causes headline news, and a high-school football player is kicked off the field for wearing pink cleats during Breast Cancer Awareness Month”.

            To realize what a major issue this still is in today’s society is beyond baffling. The acceptance to be able to explore one’s interests regardless of gender is a right that we all have and therefore should be able to practice freely. It is how we find out who we are truly meant to be as people, and that range should not be limited in any way. The media and the advertisers of today need to expand this range so that both girls and boys know that they can do and be anything they want - without ridicule. Ridding the framing of today’s norms used by current advertising that shows boys wearing blue and girls wearing pink, and instead make a point to show that it is normal for boys wear pink too, will be a major step towards ridding these gender stereotypes for good.