Assignment 3: A Sociological Analysis of Food Deserts

This essay provides a sociological analysis of food deserts, focusing on the social conflict theory. It examines the research article "Money, Not Access, Key to Resident Food Choices in ‘Food Deserts’" and evaluates its findings through the lens of sociological theory. The essay defines social conflict theory, explaining how it relates to the unequal distribution of resources, particularly access to healthy food. It also evaluates the research methods used in the article, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The research highlights how economic factors, rather than mere access, influence food choices in urban food deserts, contributing to obesity and health disparities.

Running head: Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
Josephine Hutchinson
Professor: Dr. Lauren Goldstein
Introduction to Sociology
December 3, 2018

1Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
Learn
Food desserts are getting prominent in the urban areas as a social issue which needs
solution. Access to healthy food has become difficult in the urban areas. Food deserts are
the part of urban areas that has existence as there are no easy access to local grocery market
that would provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthful whole food.
It is noteworthy, hat the issue is not only the supermarket located afar but also the
quickie marts selling approximately 25 per cent higher price for the vegetable and fruits,
that are uninterruptedly processed with chemicals. It has been also been contributing to
nation’s obesity.
The significant challenge is not only to find easy access to healthy food but also to
cope with the accessed food that are available at limited financial resources (Bowen,
MacNell, Shipman, 2017).

2Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
Theory
Social conflict theory is a macro-oriented paradigm existing in sociology. It was
founded by the German philosopher Karl Marx states. According to conflict theory, conflict
arises when power and limited resources are distributed unevenly among groups in the society
(Burrell & Morgan, 2017). In this article, the social issue is an example of the way society is a
constant conflict. Society is a ground of inequality. It is structured for privileged class to
benefit, the group with power and money, avail the advantages of the limited resources
available in society (Thompson, 2017). The healthy food is limited resources which can be
afforded only by the people who have the power of money. The aspects of inequality present
in society can extend to any areas of sex, culture, age, religion and status or class.

3Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
Evaluate
In the article, the social issue can be understood as a structure of power distribution.
It is only the rich people who get the access to the resources as they can afford it. The
people with power are the one controlling the material resources.
In the research, two prolonged approach was used. The research included both
qualitative as well as quantitative method of collecting data. The advantages of using
qualitative method was to get in-depth answers of the ways people do their shopping. The
quantitative method, the surveys, helped in getting the percentage of people as per shopping
preferences. The disadvantages of in-depth interview was the time constraint. The process
was very time consuming. For the survey method, the only disadvantage was getting the
neutral answer.
Systematic survey on regular basis can be helpful for the research. The research
method should include ways people are coping with the issue in order to find a solution to
the problem.

4Assignment 3: Using a Sociological Approach
References:
Bowen, S, MacNell, L, Shipman, M, (2017), Money, Not Access, Key to Resident Food Choices
in ‘Food Deserts’, NC STATE NEWS, retrieved from:
https://news.ncsu.edu/2017/03/money-food-deserts-2017/
Burrell, G., & Morgan, G. (2017). Sociological paradigms and organisational analysis: Elements
of the sociology of corporate life. Routledge.
Thompson, J. D. (2017). Organizations in action: Social science bases of administrative theory.
Routledge.