Identification, Image, and Social Movements: a Rhetorical View of the Equal Rights Amendment
Date of Graduation
Summer 1977
Degree
Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences
Department
Geography, Geology, and Planning
Committee Chair
Stanley Fagerlin
Abstract
In recent years, the field of rhetoric has undergone a major broadening in scope. One indication of this is the study of social movements as rhetorical phenomena, particularly in the last ten years. One major limitation of movement theory, however, has been the tendency to analyze the internal characteristics of a particular movement or of movements in general. While this does provide valuable insights into the movement, it misses an even more important aspect of the movement. This work, in contrast, attempts to build a theoretical foundation to analyze a movement as a discrete sub-system interacting with other such sub-systems within the general social system. This approach is used in the study of the Equal Rights Amendment. The conclusion is drawn that such an approach to movements, both on a theoretical level and in the case study, is valuable in understanding such things as why some movements succeed and others fail.
Subject Categories
Earth Sciences
Copyright
© H. Earl Croasmun
Recommended Citation
Croasmun, H. Earl, "Identification, Image, and Social Movements: a Rhetorical View of the Equal Rights Amendment" (1977). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 763.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/763
Dissertation/Thesis