Topics in Rhetoric and Public Culture

R209 — Spring 2019

Instructor
Freya Thimsen
Days and Times
9:30a - 10:45a MW
Course Description

Topic: “Feminist Rhetoric and Public Issues”

 

This course will explore how various kinds of feminist rhetoric address key public issues. Feminist rhetorical strategies are influenced by different feminist traditions and assumptions about how change happens. As we sort through these differences, we will ask: What does "feminism" mean today? Is there even a single meaning? These questions will be addressed in the context of controversial high-profile public issues such as sexual violence, mandatory paid maternity leave, representations of transgender identity, and religious dress codes. Students will write essays about each public issue and do an in-class presentation about feminist rhetoric on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor.