Rhetoric Analysis Essay: Gender & American Identity
Overview
This essay analyzes the rhetorical strategies employed in a 2018 Nature Research editorial that critiques a US government proposal to legally define gender based solely on genital anatomy. The student examines how the author uses ethos and pathos to persuade readers that the proposal lacks scientific foundation and would harm transgender and non-binary individuals.
What this essay covers
- Introduction: Establishes the context of gender controversies in American culture and introduces the Nature editorial as the text under analysis
- Rhetorical Appraisals - Ethos: Analyzes how the author establishes credibility by citing scientific limitations and historical progress on gender understanding
- Rhetorical Appraisals - Pathos: Examines the emotional appeals used to evoke concern for transgender and non-binary individuals affected by the proposal
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Rhetoric Analysis Essay: Gender & American Identity
Introduction
Recently, many intricate controversies in the American culture wars revolve around sex and gender issues. For instance, Americans tend to disagree whether one should limit marriage to a male and a female, who can use which bathrooms or washrooms and whether they should assume that taking care of children is primarily mothers’ responsibility. A Nature Research’s editorial, written in 2018, is an ideal example of a text that argues the current gender perceptions in American society. It is about a draft memo of a US proposal that intends to narrow the definition of gender. Hence, the HHS department proposes establishing a legal definition of sex by basing it solely on genital immutability. Therefore, the editorial rejects and criticizes classifying people as either men or women based on anatomy or genetics (Nature). The main argument for the proposals is that it will play a significant role in resolving physical appearance ambiguity. However, the author believes that the idea is terrible because it has no foundation in science and is likely to undermine the efforts to minimize gender bias, especially against trans individuals and people who do not belong to the binary groups.
Rhetorical Appraisals
Ethos. The author opposes the proposal of defining gender based solely on anatomy and genetics. One of the leading reasons is that it would undermine addressing discrimination, a prevalent social concern in the United States.