Journal of Business and Technical Communication Oct 2002

Feminist Theory in Technical Communication

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
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality technical communication gender and writing multilingual writers voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (11)

  1. Shelton (2020)
    Shifting Out of Neutral: Centering Difference, Bias, and Social Justice in a Bu…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Sánchez (2019)
    Trans Students’ Right to Their Own Gender in Professional Communication Courses…
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  3. Petersen et al. (2018)
    Bridging Analysis and Action
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Jones et al. (2016)
    Disrupting the Past to Disrupt the Future: An Antenarrative of Technical Commun…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Petersen et al. (2016)
    Using Antenarrative to Uncover Systems of Power in Mid-20th Century Policies on…
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Show all 11 →
  1. Moeller et al. (2016)
    Food Fights: Cookbook Rhetorics, Monolithic Constructions of Womanhood, and Fie…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Rohrer-Vanzo et al. (2016)
    Technical Communication in Assembly Instructions
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Zdenek (2007)
    “Just Roll Your Mouse Over Me”: Designing Virtual Women for Customer Service on…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Mara (2006)
    PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES: Using Charettes to Perform Civic Engagement in Technica…
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  5. Thompson et al. (2006)
    Women and Feminism in Technical Communication—An Update
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Thompson (2004)
    Sex Differences in Technical Communication: A Perspective from Social Role Theory
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (19)

  1. Cronn-Mills (2000)
    A Visible Ideology: A Document Series in a Women's Clothing Company
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Cook (2000)
    Writers and their maps: The construction of a GAO report on sexual harassment
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Ranney (2000)
    Beyond Foucault: Toward a user‐centered approach to sexual harassment policy
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Barker et al. (1999)
    Communication and Gender in Workplace 2000: Creating a Contextually-Based Integ…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Sutcliffe (1998)
    Feminizing the professional: The government reports of Flora Annie Steel
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 19 →
  1. Durack (1997)
    Gender, Technology, and the History of Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Flynn (1997)
    Emergent Feminist Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Flynn (1997)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Haller (1997)
    Revaluing Women's Work: Report Writing in the North Carolina Canning Clubs, 1912-1916
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Madaus (1997)
    Women's Role in Creating the Field of Health and Safety Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  6. Shirk (1997)
    Contributions to Botany, the Female Science, by Two Eighteenth-Century Women Te…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Writing Together: Gender's Effect on Collaboration
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    Gender Bias in Naval Fitness Reports? A Case Study on Gender and Rhetorical Cre…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    Women and authority in business/technical communication scholarship: An analysi…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
Also cites 14 works outside this index ↓
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CrossRef global citation count: 15 View in citation network →

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