http://www.torontosun.com/life/2011/02/18/17323991.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/03/26/the-results-are-in-women-are-better-leaders/
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/01/29/women-more-likely-than-men-to-graduate-college-at-22/
Why Being a Girl Today Totally Rocks - And How Data Proves It
The year is 2014, and plenty of killer women from all walks of life run the world - from Beyonce to Hillary Clinton to Sheryl Sandberg, it is no mistake that powerhouse women are utilizing the talents already in themselves to get from point A to point B and rousing other ladies to do the same. Despite the gender roles and sexism still commonly seen today, women have equal, and some even better, abilities than their male counterparts; science and data have proved this time and time again. Sources ranging from the Toronto Sun to Forbes have collected facts that provide some eye-opening statistics: women communicate better than men, women are more efficient leaders, and women are more likely to graduate college by age twenty-two than men. Each source uses appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos to support points. A healthy combination of rhetorical devices and factual evidence on the achievements of women push the cause of feminism and gender equality that necessary bit further.
It is a tired and prevalent gender stereotype that women talk far too much and let their over-emotional nature block their capacity to communicate effectively. However, writers at the Toronto Sun compiled research stating that “women communicate better than men and actually talk less” and “men speak more words than women in a day, but have a weaker command of language in social situations, and use the same words repeatedly and pay unconvincing compliments.” This fascinating claim is rooted in a study by researchers; the appeal to logos gives the argument credibility and catches the attention of the readers’ brain. A smorgasbord of appeals to logos lace the entire piece; for example, featuring quotes from Manchester University’s male researcher Geoffrey Beattie supplies the piece with unbiased information as well as destroys the notion that the article has the intent of bashing boys and men. The piece could also be considered a large appeal to ethos overall - sexism is a facet of of human morals and competition itself, and the research’s questioning of modern gender inequality’s weak factual foundation is a call to speak out against misogyny. Although minor, appeals to pathos, particularly for women who have been affected by sexism in the workplace, can be spotted as well: calling Sheila’s Wheels “female-friendly” is a very emotional phrase for women, who often do not feel like they are as capable as men in their various jobs. Overall, the Toronto Sun uses facts with phrases that hit close to home stitched in between to demonstrate that gender stereotypes developed from untruths must be shattered.
Another stereotype-busting source is Forbes magazine, serving up hot results that women are actually stronger leaders than men. According to author Erika Andersen, esearchers Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman “found that women out-scored men in all but one of the 16 competencies, and in 12 of the 16, the women were better by a significant margin.” Appeals to logos such as the one previously stated add trustworthiness to the argument, and since the researchers are both male, it cancels out any accusations of gender bias in the research before they can be made. Other appeals to logos in the form of numbers and percentages can be found in each of the quantitative facts throughout the article. Although logos appeals are a vital part of the argument at hand, appeals to ethos and pathos make up the meat of the article. For instance, Andersen covers all ethos bases in her paragraph titled “Senior men still mostly hire other men.” Said paragraph goes into detail about the unequal hiring processes seen today, declaring that “the grandmothers and grandfathers of the young women coming into the workforce today expected that women, if they worked at all, would be secretaries, nurses, teachers, librarians, or possibly factory workers, and that they would only work if they ‘had’ to...the older white males who run most companies are only one generation away from those beliefs.” This point is in place for the readers to question the morals of how today’s workers at top positions are mostly male. Andersen also manages to reach the reader through her personal stories, which function as appeals to pathos. Case in point, when she asserts that she and her husband found the male-female demographics in Mad Men “shocking,” it sprinkles a sense of drama and high emotion into the article, which raises the stakes for the reader. Andersen continues to use powerful adjectives and personal accounts to grip the reader’s attention as the article goes on. Pieces such as Andersen’s in Forbes magazine aide in driving home the point that women have the ambition and work ethic men commonly do.
The final (and perhaps the most substantial) slice of evidence promoting the 180 degree turn gender roles are making can be noticed in an article by Sara Murray for the Wall Street Journal. The article, titled “Women More Likely Than Men to Graduate College at 22,” features a plethora of appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos as well as pushes gender equality forward. The logos appeals are presented as various factoids from the beginning to the end of the piece; for example, “data from the longitudinal study showed that 29% of women were attending college in October when they were 22 compared to 25% of men. Another 13% of women had earned a bachelor’s degree, more than the 7% of men.” This adds a scientific effect to the writing, making it more honorable to the readers. Appeals to ethos are also strung in between logos appeals; for instance, the moral code of men versus women is debated when it comes to volunteering. The profession that women are much more likely to do volunteer work magnifies the female disposition to help others for the sake of ethics as well as manifesting the fact that women work just as hard as men for jobs that may not even pay. Pathos appeals in this article are subtle, but present - the researchers conducted a series of interviews, and the notion that they were on real people and are more than just baseball scores focuses in on the human condition. The personification of the faceless interviews paints a more vivid picture for the audience, and men and women reading the article alike are able break down the gender stereotypes in their heads. The Wall Street Journal’s gutsiness with posting an article suggesting women are more likely to graduate college is an admirable trait when it comes to sticking up for girl power.
The long and winding road towards leaning in has become straighter since the days when women could not even wear pants, let alone vote, but the terrain, in turn, has become rockier. However, leaders in the publishing world are taking on the role of stars in a black night to pump today’s youth full of healthy mindsets on gender roles and feminism. The rhetorical skill of the authors most prominent today often go unsung, but are exceedingly crucial to the cause. Appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos are all unique but key to making a reader’s brain tick and grow. Thanks to the brave catalysts for feminism of the Toronto Sun, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal, girls and women all over the globe have access to that tiny tap on their shoulders seeming to whisper, “Go on. Do it.”
