Argument paper Choose from Supplied List Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument paper Choose from Supplied List - Essay Example There have been a number of studies that proved how continuous exposure to advertising leads children to buy products they see on ads which are dominated by soda and chips (Hastings et al., 2003; IOM, 2006; Story & French, 2004). There have also been several quantitative studies that assess how heavier media spend equates to higher purchase of food being advertise which also results to increase of diseases and obesity among children (IOM, 2006; Hastings et al., 2003). This alarming rise of obesity and diabetes on children and the relentless power of food companies to convince children to unhealthy food choices are the strongest reason for schools to take a more active part in giving proper nutrition to children. Parents are unable to supervise their children when in school. That is a total of six to seven hours of unmonitored time (Berg & Debroff, 2005). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a study (Joelving, 2011) stating that everyone must help in this epidemi c including the public schools. However, even the public schools that are supposed to be supporting health initiatives are not doing enough to traffic the bad influences that children have when it comes to nutrition. This paper intends to understand the need for public schools to stop offering soda and junk foods in school cafeteria and the challenges that school may face in implementing such a policy. Junk Food in Public School Cafeteria The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required each local education agency that participates in the National School Lunch Program or other child nutrition program to offer USDA approved meals. This means that public schools are required to offer nutritious food in their cafeterias but 43 percent of participating schools are unable to implement this policy (RWJF, 2009) because of several factors including: Lack of personnel to cook healthy food Lack of cafeteria equipment Lack of time to devote to planning and buying supplies Unfor tunately they also offer Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value or FMNV. FMNV is actually a fancy word for junk food. According to USDA, FMNV are artificially sweetened foods and foods that gives less than the 5% of the Reference Daily Intake for each of the eight specified nutrients such as protein, Vitamin A & C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium and iron (Molnar et al, 2006). It also doesn’t help that kids can get junk food and soda from the vending machine in every turn. One study about the â€Å"competitive foods â€Å"in Philadelphia showed that the top selling food in the school cafeteria are hamburgers, pizza, cookies, French fries, carbonated drinks, candy bars and of course chocolate (Probart et al, 2005). A report on the CDC website indicated that, from 2004 to 2006, the median percentage of secondary schools across states allowing students to purchase chocolate candy and salty snacks that are not low in fat decreased. It’s an Economic Concern Providing fr ee luch to students that below on low income families is not cheap (Probart et al, 2005): $.89 - $.97 per child for breakfast $1.54 - $2.28 per child for lunch Of this, each school is reimbursed only half of what they spen

Use of Gender Stereotypes in Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Use of Gender Stereotypes in Advertising - Essay Example Gender stereotyping in the advertisements has become one of the major problems seen. For many it is a wrong and unacceptable way since it gives a wrong sense of value to the people for selfish reasons. On the other hand, the groups of people who use gender stereotyping argue that it is to reach the targeted audience and not to immorally harm the society. The issues arise often and the debate goes on. It is important to note that advertisements rely on stereotypes, and despite what the society presents, gender stereotypes play the concrete role. The modern society has been shaped according to the media that surrounds us. The main purpose why advertisers use stereotypes is to make their message stronger and reach the targeted audience. They also think this secures the stereotypes in the society and portrays their position in the society. However, it also causes an inverse effect according to many psychologists. They say these advertisements represent the genders in the society as they exist stereotypically, and also cause these groups to be influenced to stay packed within their stereotyped molds. The advertisement of Weight Watchers is an example of how gender stereotypes are commonly used in advertisements. They have the perspective of looking at men and women so differently that they have used two separate advertisements in order to target them. The advertisement for women launched the ‘Weight Watchers 360’ programme and the advertisement for men launched the ‘Lose like a Man’ programme. The programme for women was very stereotypical as it focused on the ability of the user to, at times, eat what they wanted, such as chocolates. For men the programme used the approach giving them the ability to sometimes eat some of their favourites and still lose weight, such as pizza, burgers etc. The advertisement could not have gotten more stereotypical where it positioned different tactics for both genders, placed the genders in their stereotyped roles and influenced the society to follow them. The relationship between the media and the society is not understandable. It is observed that women face excessive stereotypical pressure, but usually men suffer the same. Gender stereotyping in advertisements is commonly discouraged because it enforces negative and false assumptions in the society through portraying audiences on television, social media or billboards. For selfish reasons advertisers use these groups and create wrong values in the minds of people in the society. Psychological reasons are the most important ones because of which stereotyping in advertisements are immoral and harmful. The advertisement may remind the targeted audience of any incidents that they went through, and influence to think of them as normal. Advertisers sell their products through targeting the psychology where the audience starts to feel they actually lack those so-called attributes (Browne, 2011, p. 33). Advertisements affect people every day in a way that they do not realise. These advertisements portray an idealistic reality which most people are not aware of. The goals and objectives attained by the advertisers cause severe negative circumstances in the society. Psychologists say that women are reminded of the negative stereotypes before they perform any exercise or activity. The stereotyped advertisements create an exaggerated version of a specific group or gender and they present it as normal. This affects the psychology of people who are being targeted and they are not only convinced to buy the product but also start believing themselves to be normally unusual.