Feminist Theory and the Redefinition of Technical Communication

Abstract

To study the possible impact of feminist theory on technical communication, this article discusses six common characteristics of feminist theory: (a) celebration of difference, (b) impact on social change, (c) acknowledgment of scholars' backgrounds and values, (d) inclusion of women's experience, (e) study of gaps and silences in traditional scholarship, and (f) new female sources of knowledge. Three debates within feminist theory spring out of these common characteristics: whether to stress similarity or difference between the sexes, whether differences come from biological or social forces, and whether feminist scholars can avoid reinforcing binary opposition. The article then traces the impact of these characteristics of feminist theory and debates within feminist theory on the redefinition of technical communication in terms of the myth of scientific objectivity, the new interest in ethnographic studies of workplace communication, and the recent focus on collaborative writing.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
1991-10-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651991005004002
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (32)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  5. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Show all 32 →
  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Technical Communication Quarterly
  6. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  7. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  9. Technical Communication Quarterly
  10. Technical Communication Quarterly
  11. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  12. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  13. Computers and Composition
  14. Technical Communication Quarterly
  15. Technical Communication Quarterly
  16. Technical Communication Quarterly
  17. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  18. Technical Communication Quarterly
  19. Technical Communication Quarterly
  20. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  21. Technical Communication Quarterly
  22. Technical Communication Quarterly
  23. Technical Communication Quarterly
  24. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  25. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  26. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  27. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

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