Redefinition of self: A comparison of the rhetoric of the women's liberation and black liberation movements

Abstract

Both the Women's Liberation and the Black Liberation movements share tha basic rhetorical task of redefinition of self. Yet a comparison, grounded in a rhetorical definition of movements, reveals at least three significant rhetorical differences in the two movements: (1) Metaphorical use suggests the black movement assumes the dominant white culture's value of sexism; the women's movement attempts to overcome white racism; (2) Black rhetors can assume a pre‐existing audience; feminist rhetors must first create the group and consequently an audience; (3) Black rhetoric generates a counter‐movement; feminist rhetoric generates only backlash, public silence, and private ridicule.