Julian of Norwich (1342-1416), was a Christian mystic whose writings, "Revelation of Love" and "A Book of Showings," are the earliest surviving texts in the English language written by a woman. The question that has puzzled scholars for centuries follows: How could a woman of her time express her vision in such innovative and…

In this article, we undertake three critical tasks: First, we delineate major shifts in feminist rhetorical inquiry, thus describing a new and changed landscape of the field. Second, we argue that as feminist rhetorical practices have shifted, so have standards of excellence. To articulate excellence in feminist rhetorical studies, we draw…

Identifying the specific complexities and historical context of post-Mao Chinese literary women's rhetoric, along with ways they have been misread, the author argues in general that Western feminist critics need to be cautious about applying their concepts to non-Western women's literature. (Contains 7 notes.)

The collection of articles in featured in the special issue of the "College English" focus on the virtues of rhetorical analysis in understanding global concerns. In this article, the author offers her views about these articles. The author contends that neither feminism nor rhetorical analysis should be considered mere supplements in the study of…

In this essay, the author examines the digital circulations of representations of one Afghan women's rights organization--the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)--to demonstrate the importance of a global and digital field for feminist rhetorical analysis. Specifically, this analysis traces how women's self-representations are…

In this article, the author investigates the circulation and appropriation of representations of women in public policy. The author effectively mobilizes the metaphor of the network to examine the discursive intersections and transnational links between U.S. welfare programs and the World Bank gender mainstreaming policies. Her analysis reveals…

Demonstrates that the rhetorical vision of STOP ERA is essentially mythic in both its plot (the romantic quest) and in its characters (psychological archetypes). Discusses the subtle and pervasive impact of such mythical archetypes. (JMF)

As an initial step toward discovering whether a separate genre of women's rhetoric exists, this paper analyzes rhetorical forms used by Mary Daly in the book "Gyn/Ecology." The paper first outlines criteria for determining whether a form has rhetorical significance and traces the historical background of the contemporary feminist…

Discusses Susan Jarratt's book "Rereading the Sophists," interrogating her notion of a "feminist sophistic." Discusses the author's own work in terms of a "third sophistic," and calls on writings by Gayatri, Spivak, J. Derrida, and Helene Cixous. (SR)

Uses fantasy theme analysis to examine how the women's movement rose from early small-group interaction to high visibility and acceptance by the public. Focuses on two organizations from 1967-77: the Twin Cities Female Liberation Group and the National Organization for Women, Twin Cities chapter. (PD)

Invites rhetorical critics to reappraise the way they study discreet social movements and pay isolated tribute to woman's rights figures. Examines how Mary Wollstonecraft, Margaret Fuller, and Angelina Grimke each co-opted the ideational and stylistic rhetorical characteristics of pre-existing social movements (the enlightenment,…

Argues that attempts to (re)read, (re)cover, and (re)present women, and to therefore (re)cast history, are insidious acts of (re)appropriation. Maintains that, because of processes of exchange and objectification structured into the phallocentric narratives of Aristotle and Freud, "woman" is both uncovered and unrecoverable and awaits a…

Asserts that academic feminists who argue on behalf of a women-centered policy analysis have raised several vital points, but that the forms of persuasion on which they rely are not productive of the policy changes they seek. Suggests that to ensure that policy analysis is conducted as if gender mattered, women-centered analysts need to avoid the…

Replies to Haithe Anderson's critique of their conceptualization of feminist critical analysis. Reaffirms and elaborates on what makes conventional policy analysis incapable of undoing the power asymmetries that characterize relations between male and female academics. (EV)

The rhetorical technique of Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" is discussed and analyzed as one source of its impact on the women's movement. De Beauvoir's existentialist philosophy is seen as the most significant factor both in her perception of the world and in the rhetorical style adopted in the book. This includes both a…