Women Talk about Talk at Work

Abstract

Western theory of rhetoric is based upon a narrow culture-specific literacy practice of dominant groups in the public domains of society. Empirical research into rhetorical acts in other social contexts, and performed by non-dominant groups such as working-class women is neglected. I argue that such a research is needed. An important reason for research is the desire to ground a language education that empowers working-class women in courses of adult basic education to act effectively and to see themselves as people who have a say in the communicative situations in which they participate. In this paper I give an account of my research into the language experiences of twenty-two working-class women in their paid or volunteer jobs. It became clear that the rhetorical act is not a neutral or merely a technical concept. The rhetorical act is gendered and its description therefore needs a revised theoretical framework.