McDonald's has experienced various forms of violence due to their business practices. They portray themselves as socially responsible through advertising but hide the realities behind the scenes. They use child labor, exploit workers, damage health, and cause social violence. Specifically, McDonald's commits systematic violence by paying low wages and opposing workers' rights. They propagate symbolic violence by promoting discrimination. Their high calorie menu items and marketing poses health challenges and financial problems for consumers.

1. The violence behind the food industry: McDonald’ s
The violence behind the food industry: McDonald’ sModern 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 theoryViolence 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’ sAccording 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

2. ((Jerome 72)Symbolic Violence at McDonald’ sMcDonald’ 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 GenerationWith 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.MarketingCompetition 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 CitedBarthold, C. “ Violence: Capitalism,

3. Language and Physical Force.” Journal of Critical Globalisation Studies, 5 (2012): 172-174.
Web. 30 Oct. 2013.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.