Fat Phobia vs. Eating dissorders

After discussing the topic and the problem America has on fat phobia, I realize how we have two major issues with body image and creating stereotypes depending on the situation. For those who are considered overweight and show it with their physical appearance we tend to think of them as lazy, slow, careless, dirty individuals. We often ask ourselves questions like; do they not care about their health or physical looks? Is all they do eat? Do they not think about their needs to participate in activities that can improve their health? These questions are genuinely stereotypical because little do we actually know their medical health records. They might be perfectly healthy. But because they are fat, we as a society fear becoming overweight. On the other hand studies show that people with eating disorders who suffer from anorexia and bulimia are at a far higher risk of death and deaths in life, and those who are heavier actually live on average longer than those in normal weight class. My theory behind this is that people who are overweight are the ones who are looking for help while the ones who suffer from eating disorders are in a far deeper level of depression and neglect looking for help which is probably why we don’t hear too much about these issues but we do when it comes to those who are overweight.

Distance Learning Assignment

At first I had no idea that this shocking, ridiculous scandal with the whole Pen State University thing was going on. I actually heard about it in my 332i class once the professor mentioned it. Even then all I heard were random hard to pronounce names. Then I overheard my supervisor talking about it at work, so I did a bit of research. I was surprised I didn’t hear about this earlier. The scandal was everywhere. The media apparently plays a big role on spreading out the information to the public and although information is information it is not always true. What was done is obviously awful and immensely wrong, yet was portrayed in ways that could have been much more accurate. The media mentioned how all the students are protesting against those who are faulting Joe Paterno for what he had committed, which is not necessarily true since there are a handful of students who clearly go against Paterno at Pen State. This means that the media has created the alumni at PSU to portray a sense of negligence to the school and has made them look bad.
Deviance as well as power and media all closely connect to society by often times making it seem that laws can be broken without serious consequences. Joe Paterno and the others who were involved in this cunning incident are not being fully punished for what they committed. But if the ones who had committed this were normal everyday blue and white color workers then we would get the worst of it. They get leeway simply because of the reputation they have created with their professions and privilege. I would say that deviance, power and media go hand in hand when it comes to unjust acts, which is why I see this whole debate from a cultural theoretical perspective.
Sandusky has no moral values, no ethics, and no principles! I feel that every member in this scandal is just as guilty as the next. Paterno knew that nothing had been said to high authorities and refused to go out of his way to do something morally correct. Why didn’t he? Because he was too preoccupied with losing all he had attained in his profession, his legacy and the football program at PSU. Even thought the law is the law and many times people seem to surpass it, it shouldn’t matter who you are, your age, especially your race what is wrong is wrong and you should get punished just as everyone else according to your proceedings.

Men & Women in sport media

In regards to our discussion about the media of sport today in class, and how the majority of the time men are primarily the ones who not only are broadly mentioned but also seen in magazines, newspaper, television etc. rather than women. There has been a few incidents where I hear about young kids who have been scouted by schools, professional teams and even major club sports overseas. For example USC picked up a young boy who I believe is around the age of 13-15 who they are already beginning to train and work on his athletic skill to become a quarterback for the big football team, even offering him a full scholarship in order for him to stay. I also heard about a young boy who has been picked up by the one of the biggest Spanish soccer teams in Europe (FC Barcelona). He is about 11-13 years old and they claim that he has good skill. Of course this is amazing and in a way good for these young athletes but what I do not hear about are the women and little girls in these situations. For example the youngest player on the U.S national women’s soccer team is 22 years old and you don’t hear about young girls being scouted to play and train with these big teams.