Feminist Research as Journey (or, Like, Whatever?)

Abstract

The question of who does language change has existed in the field of linguistics for decades. When does linguistic change occur? Who chooses when a new word becomes relevant and how does this happen? This essay investigates these questions through a feminist lens, adapting tools from both feminist linguistic study as well as feminist rhetorical theory and historiography. Rather than pinning down an answer, the essay attempts to follow the trajectory of the research itself, observing how perspectives can shift drastically depending on one’s method of inquiry. By using both primary archival material as well as contemporary case studies, the essay also investigates how a collaboration between current feminist approaches can bring a more holistic view to past, present, and future research.