Mcdonaldization

McDonaldization
1. What is McDonaldization?
McDonaldization is the process of standardizing and systematizing all aspects of life. It is a
concept that was first introduced by sociologist George Ritzer in 1993. McDonaldization,
according to Ritzer, is a society where everything has been replaced by “a fast-food model of
production and consumption”.
2. Discuss an example of McDonaldization
McDonaldization is seen in many aspects of our life, from fast-food to clothing and even
education. The term has also been used to describe how people are treated as customers,
employees, and citizens in society.
The following example discusses how McDonaldization is applied to education:
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A typical example of McDonaldization can be seen in the service industry. In this type of
industry, the customer’s needs are often not met to their satisfaction because they are too
busy and under pressure to serve as many customers as possible.
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In the US, for example, K-12 education has been heavily McDonaldized with an
emphasis on teaching-to-the-test and standardized testing.
3. Discuss one of the “principles” of McDonaldization.
McDonaldization is the process of a society becoming more like McDonalds. It is the process
of standardization and rationalization, which are two principles that McDonalds has used to
become so successful.
The first principle, standardization, is the process of making everything uniform and predictable.
McDonald’s restaurants have a set menu with all the same food items in every location.
Customers know what they are going to get when they walk into a McDonald’s restaurant
anywhere in the world because it will be exactly the same as every other location. The second
principle, rationalization, is about efficiency and calculability. This can be seen through how
McDonald’s employees are trained to follow strict guidelines for everything from cooking time
for their burgers to how long customers should wait before getting up from their table after
eating.
4. How does McDonaldization connect to industrialized agriculture?
The industrial agriculture system has been heavily influenced by McDonaldization. This has
led to farm animals being treated like machines, with their lives reduced to mere production
units. The industrial system is not only a cause of animal suffering, but it is also the root cause
behind many of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. On the other hand, the
efficiency of this process has made it possible for animal products to be available year-round, at
lower prices than ever before. . The industrial system has created a global economy, which is
dominated by animal products.
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