Journal of Business and Technical Communication Oct 2002

Feminist Theory in Technical Communication: Making Knowledge Claims Visible

Elizabeth Overman Smith ; Isabelle Thompson Auburn University

Abstract

This study extends the corpus of an earlier qualitative content analysis about women and feminism and identifies the knowledge claims and themes in the 20 articles that discuss gender differences. Knowledge claims are reflected in expressions such as androgyny; natural collaborators; hierarchical, dialogic, and asymmetrical modes; web; connected knowers; different voice; ethic of care; ethic of objectivity; continuous with others; connected to the world; the cultural divide; visual metaphor; andgender-free science. Built from knowledge claims, the themes in the 20 articles include gender differences in language use, learning, and knowledge construction; gender differences in collaboration; and reviews of research about gender differences and political calls for action. Although the 20 articles provide little support for the existence of gender differences, by introducing, discussing, testing, and revising new ideas about women and feminism, they serve as an example of the process of knowledge accumulation and remodeling in technical communication.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2002-10-01
DOI
10.1177/105065102236526
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Topics
collaborative writing technical communication gender and writing book reviews
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (14)

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CrossRef global citation count: 15 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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