Question

How are Ritzer ideas on the iron cage and velvet cage are reflects on a person's life?

Answer 1

Ritzer presents his ideas on rationalization through Macdonaldization, a term that he has given to the fast food generation of today's world. The convenience, comforts and perdictability that this MacDonald's chain has given to fast food industry has a huge impact on the American society. Hence, he has termed his views on human rationalization that are bound by comfort, convenience, and predictability.

For Ritzer iron cage means the system of bureaucracy that is as strong and limiting as the iron cage. They are the hard bound rules and regulations of the society which each individual has to follow no matter what. It curtails human freedom, creativity and make them more mechanical. But still they are followed by the people and people align themselves to iron cage and conform to be trapped in it because majority do so.

The velvet cage is the trap caused by the comfort, ease, convenience, and predictability that is brought by the products and services of today's world. People enjoy being trapped in this velvet cage and do not strive for their freedom and creativity, and do not look for other options out of their comfort zone.