Introduction
In the recent past, America has had an alarming increase in overweight and obesity cases. Today, out of every three Americans, two are obese. With the current trends in the consumption of foods, statistics show that, by the year 2015, a third of America will be obese. While obesity issues continue to increase, minorities would be severely affected. As argued by Rushing (1), while Hispanics have a 25 percent prevalence, African Americans are 50 percent higher compared to whites. In the video, “Fault Lines: Fast food, Fat profits: Obesity in America”, Josh Rushing discovers the world characterized for cheap foods for minorities in America Rushing (1).
He tries to discover opportunities through which people have to consume healthy foods as well as individuals responsible for the processed and desert foods within the American schools. Insights in the video are drawn from individuals who are constantly trying to address the current situation. In line with the various issues highlighted in the YouTube video, this paper will identify two frameworks through which the video filtered its materials. Secondly, utilizing radical doubts in rejecting messages communicated in the face of social reality.
Main body
“Frame Analysis” puts into focus the notion that people have no choice but to group their experience to grasp its importance and pass this information to others. In his article, Goffman (30) argues that defining social situations is built upon the primary frames of an individual’s understanding. Such frames give us the perdition to derive sense from events through the experiences brought forward in an easily understandable manner. Basing on the fact that transformation is not a one-way concept, retransformation is possible. Since framing is not a perfect process, there is also a possibility of a frame disputatiously. Therefore, incorrect framing can be cleared by presenting the correct views.
In the video, Rushing (1) investigates the root course of obesity and related diseases. To prove his point, Goffman uses two frameworks in establishing the root course of Obesity. As established in the video, there are two forms of frameworks: social and natural frameworks. While the natural frameworks are undirected and physical, the social framework is characterized by not only aim and will but also controlling efforts.
The social framework provides a way through which events are applied by giving them social meanings. Focusing on the social frameworks, poverty, and poor governance have been used to describe the challenge of obesity in America. Since poor people luck money to spend on healthy foods, they resort to fast foods which intern result in cases such as obesity. As he reviews the current statistics of Obesity in America, Rushing (1) projects, while all factors remain constant, beliefs that the number of obese cases among the minority communities will double by the year 2020. The other framework through which Rushing depends to analyze the current obesity situation is poor governance.
In this documentary, it is confirmed through policymakers are at the helm of promoting the increased cases of obesity and related complications among minority communities. As they protect their interests, policymakers are reluctant to take part in initiatives that will promote healthy diets among the minority communities.
In utilizing radical doubt, Rushing has not been able to effectively defend his position on the main courses of Obesity and related complications in the minority communities. Instead of addressing real issues that promote obesity in America, Rushing has provided vies that are contrary to the main course of the issues discussed. Foremost, Rushing utilizes poverty as a framework to support his position. Contrary to this view, the stigma of obesity is the main reason behind the increasing cases of obesity among minorities. To discuss the different features of self, Goffman (36) came up with a nuanced of stigma. Goffman (37) argued that stigma plays a very important role in social life.
An argument brought forward with the importance of this assumption was that stigmatized traits make people appear unacceptable in other people’s eyes. Through his argument, three accounts in which individuals are classified as undesirable include the blemishes of individual character, the tribal stigmata, and the abomination of one’s body (Goffman, 41). In most cases, stigmatized individuals are looked down upon. Basing on the low perception of these individuals, stigmatized individuals absorb discomfort and move away from social interactions towards their own self-comfort.
Conclusion
Frameworks of poor governance and poverty can be further disputed. Goffman further notes that obesity is closely attributed to embarrassment. In his study, Goffman (38) established that physical blight and corpulence controls people to a greater extent. As a result, obese people are considered gluttonous. The explanation is used to demonstrate how people are treated. Despite this stereotypical notion, it is important to consider if people with obesity consider they have been mistreated. Biased attribute to discrimination is the main course of stigmatization among obese individuals. These reasons explain the reason why minorities are constantly increasing in weight.
While policymakers have a greater responsibility of ensuring American citizens eat healthy foods, it is necessary to use stigma as the main course of obesity among the minorities. Although this video plays an important role in helping the public understand the effects of unhealthy foods, delivering the main course of obesity is important. Mitigating issues related to unhealthy feeding habits can only achieve by utilizing the appropriate framework in investigating the issue.
Works Cited
Goffman, Erving. Frame analysis: An essay on the organization of experience. Harvard University Press, 1974. Print.
Rushing, Josh. Fault Lines: Fast food, Fat profits: Obesity in America. YouTube. Web.