This course examines women's rhetorical traditions in twentieth-century America and into the present day. We will consider not simply political activism such as suffrage and civil rights but a rich range of rhetorical activities and scenes sometimes left out of traditional literary and historical treatments, such as popular music and pop culture. We will also seek to get beyond simple narratives of adversity and triumph to better understand women in their rich historical contexts. Throughout we will pay close attention to issues that have both united and divided women, especially along lines of race, class, and culture.

Prospective Texts:
We’ll read a number of works by and about women rhetors, treating topics such as suffrage, social justice and civil rights activism, home economics and environmentalism, discourses of work and the body, and third-wave and online activism. All readings will be downloadable from the UM library or course website.

Course Requirements:

Students will write short weekly responses to readings and actively participate in and occasionally lead class discussion; there will be several short assignments leading to a 10-15-page research paper, for which students will receive ample time in and out of class to develop, workshop, and revise with the help of the instructor and classmates. We will also take our research public by contributing to Wikipedia or other online writing venue.

Intended Audience:

This class welcomes students from any discipline and requires no prerequisite study, just a desire to learn more about women's rhetorical practices and a willingness to engage in critical reading, writing, and research in a discussion-based classroom. For more information, contact Prof. Gold (dpg@umich.edu).

Class Format:

Discussion