GENDERED RHETORICAL

THEORIES
ENG 211: RHETORIC
T U E S D AY M A R C H 1 5 2 0 1 6

SEX, GENDER, AND FEMINISM

Sex refers to biological characteristics of
individuals.
Gender refers to socially constructed
identities individuals assume.
Feminism is concerned with equality between
men and women.

RHETORIC AND THE THREE WAVES OF

FEMINISM
The first wave of the womens rights movement took place in
the 1800s and was aimed primarily at achieving the right to
vote for women.
The second wave occurred in the 1960s and sought to achieve
equal rights for women in a variety of ways, including in the
workplace and pay.
The third wave of feminism focuses on the day-to-day activities
of women as they seek to achieve equality in todays society.

FOUR GROUPINGS OF FEMINIST

RHETORICAL THEORY
Inclusion theories seek to give voice to women rhetors and
theorists.
Reconceptualizing theories attempt to account for differences
between how men and women use rhetoric.
Gender diversity argues for a range of rhetoric responses to
gender and feminism.
Oppression and liberation theories seek to show how rhetoric
oppresses women, but also how it can liberate them.

COMMON TRAITS OF FEMINIST

RHETORICAL THEORY
Feminist theorists include both public and private views of rhetoric,
although they differ greatly on rhetorics purpose.
Feminist theorists generally agree that the knowledge produced by
masculine rhetoric is incomplete and inaccurate.
Feminist theorists believe that our identities are based on how we have
been socialized through rhetoric.
Feminist theorists focus on the ethical dimension of rhetoric and seek to
establish equality in between men and women.

MAJOR FEMINIST RHETORICAL

THEORISTS
Karlyn Kohrs Campbell has brought to light a great deal of first
wave feminist rhetoric presented in public venues.
Sonja Foss and Karen Foss have studied how the private
rhetoric of women expresses feminist values and ideas.
Campbell has highlighted the unique genre of womens
movement rhetoric.
Sally Gearhart Miller has argued that persuasive rhetoric is
violent and that alternative forms of relationships between
speaker and audience be considered.

INVITATIONAL RHETORIC
Invitational rhetoric involves offering perspectives to
the audience they may or may not share.
Invitational rhetoric seeks to create an atmosphere of
safety, value, and freedom.

FEMININE STYLE
Feminine style is based on womens
experiences in learning crafts.
Feminine style uses narratives, concrete
examples, analogies, and anecdotes.
Feminine style emerges because of power and
gender socialization.

GENDER DIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE

How gender is constructed
through rhetorical practice.
This perspective views rhetoric as
public persuasion.

MARY DALY: RHETORICS OPPRESSIVE

EFFECTS AND POTENTIAL FOR LIBERATION
The foreground includes rhetorical
practices that oppress women.
The background includes those practices
that liberate women.