Meet Amiee Zhao the author of “Proud To be Autistic: Greta Thunberg’s Queering Rhetorical Genre in Climate Change Advocacy.”
Amiee Zhao is a freshman at Oxford College of Emory University and the author of “Proud To be Autistic: Greta Thunberg’s Queering Rhetorical Genre in Climate Change Advocacy.” Her article examines the effectiveness and function of non-standard rhetorical speech through the framework of neurological queerness and rhetorical genre studies (RGS). In Aimee’s article, she discusses “how Thunberg harnesses her autistic power through adding variations to the existing rhetorical genre for climate change advocacy, which is the epideictic political speeches genre.”
Aimee was drawn to this topic because she wanted to show that autistic people can be as rhetorically intelligent and effective as neurotypical people. She also has a personal connection to this topic, as both Aimee and her mother are autistic. Aimee explains that she did not receive a diagnosis until much later in her life, but because of her research about Greta Thunberg, Aimee became more confident in her autistic identity.
Aimee initially wanted to do quantitative research with all of Thunberg’s Tweets but quickly realized it would have been too much data to analyze. Instead, she took a qualitative approach and examined patterns in Greta’s speech. While conducting her research, Aimee found that there was somewhat of a research gap regarding autism in rhetorical genre studies. She speculates that this is due to a lack of knowledge about autism and the misconceptions surrounding it.
Aimee notes how Greta’s speech and accompanying mannerisms are unconventional, which led some to doubt Greta because of the stigma surrounding autism. Aimee believes that being so open and straightforward is Greta Thunberg’s strength, and those strengths should be valued. Through her work, Aimee hopes to change the narrative around autism as people become more accepting of neurodivergence. However, she reiterates that the current environment still needs to change as autistic people are still subjected to ridicule.
Aimee credits her English professor at Oxford College of Emory University, Dr. Gwendolynne Reid, in the acknowledgments of her manuscript. Dr. Reid’s class is where she “first discovered the power of rhetoric and the realm of rhetorical studies.” Dr. Reid also guided Aimee through her research and helped her become a researcher with integrity. Aimee also expresses her gratitude to Dr. Joseph Janangelo at Loyola University of Chicago, who closely evaluated and revised her article.
She is grateful to the editors of YSW, stating that “they have given me the valuable opportunity to inquire and research as a college freshman and have provided me with sufficient advice.”
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This post was initially developed through a partnership between Dr. Cope’s Fall 2023 WRT280: Research Methods students, who interviewed the author, and Dr. Cutrufello’s Fall 2023 WRT320: Digital Writing students, who drafted the post. Lee Krauss edited and updated it for publication.
