Feminist Rhetoric by Another Name: Examination of its Quiet and Unacknowledged Presence Across Disciplines

Abstract

Feminist rhetorics, a subfield within composition and rhetoric, has maintained a quiet yet transformative presence within rhetoric across disciplines. Feminist rhetorics employ new,intersectional rhetorical strategies, such as strategic contemplation, rhetorical listening, and alternative epistemologies, that challenge the traditional and patriarchal forms and styles of rhetoric we are so frequently taught to reproduce. Unlike conventional rhetoric, feminist rhetoric is not widely known or taught, and as a result, its contributions go largely, if not entirely, unnoticed. However, as students of feminist rhetorics themselves, the authors were compelled to recognize and credit this subfield for the shifts it has sparked within rhetoric as a whole. This research assessed the presence of feminist rhetorics within avariety of academic disciplines through the experiences of seven undergraduate students. Researchers learned of each participant’s experiences with rhetoric and culture within their fields through individual interviews, and interviewees’ responses were then analyzed to determine which, if any, disciplines use feminist rhetorical strategies and whether these strategies were identified as such. The authors found that feminist rhetoric had a greater presence within the humanities compared to the social and natural sciences. However, out of all the students we interviewed, only one identified the use of feminist rhetoric and rhetorical methodologies by its name. The authors hope that this research encourages the wider and increased use of feminist rhetorical strategies within academic and professional spheres to expand our definition of acceptable rhetoric further.