One aspect of the social environment found in a fast-food restaurant would be obesity.  The availability of fast foods in America and how often Americans eat fast food both make it seem like being overweight is not only accepted but actually encouraged.  We hear on the news all the time about how America is the fattest country in the world, and how being overweight has not only short term effects, like lower energy levels, but also long term problems, like high cholesterol and heart complications.  These establishments are causing more harm than good, but society continues to endorse them.  Different fast-food restaurants are seen as hangouts by younger kids, or places for treats after different events for many.  Our culture is promoting being overweight and until we stop, there will be many repercussions on future generations.

An aspect of the work environment that could be of particular interest to a sociologist could be the overall health conditions of employees.  Does working with the fast food every day cause them to want to eat more of it, or does seeing the social and physical effects it can have push them away from consuming any?

Of the two sociologists, I feel Durkheim is more relevant to today’s problems than Mills.  Suicide is something that has been going on for many years and does not seem to be going away any time soon.  This is a problem that the world as a whole needs to address and reduce.  It is also relevant to me because a few people around me are depressed and this topic is linked to depression.  Until we can find a way to lower or stop suicide altogether, it is something that is going to be a worldwide problem for a long time.