Abstract
Why is a feminist praxis necessary for a comparative study of rhetoric? What would a feminist praxis of comparative rhetoric do? mean? be? What can we come to know with a feminist praxis of comparative rhetoric? Offering first a critique of the idea of a comparative approach through feminist theories challenging binary epistemology and metaphorical meaning making, this essay proceeds to theorize a feminist praxis of comparative rhetoric. This feminist praxis engages the study of histories and theories of rhetoric across cultures by analyzing along intersectional lines of power exposing injustices and exploring potential for equity, decolonizing knowledge, and deconstructing violence—physical, epistemic, and otherwise—towards abolition. Using the example of a comparative study in Gayatri Spivak’s critique of sati, and my own example of comparative study of story-telling in ancient Greek and ancient Hindu culture, this essay displays some of the many offerings of a feminist praxis of comparative rhetoric, namely equitable historiography and theory making in the study of rhetoric across cultures.
Document Type
Book Chapter
ISBN
9780367409029
Publication Date
2021
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2021, Routledge/CRC Press. This chapter first appeared in The Routledge Handbook of comparative World Rhetorics: Studies in the History, Application, and Teaching of Rhetoric Beyond Traditional Greco-Roman Contexts.
Please note that downloads of the book chapter are for private/personal use only.
This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge/CRC Press in The Routledge Handbook of comparative World Rhetorics: Studies in the History, Application, and Teaching of Rhetoric Beyond Traditional Greco-Roman Contexts on 2021, available to purchase online: https://www.routledge.com/9780367409029
Recommended Citation
Mifsud, Mari Lee, “Feminist Praxis of Comparative Rhetoric,” in The Routledge Handbook of comparative World Rhetorics: Studies in the History, Application, and Teaching of Rhetoric Beyond Traditional Greco-Roman Contexts, ed. Keith Lloyd. Routledge Press (2021). p. 306-314.
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons