Rhetorical Analysis Of 'Women's Enfranchisement' By Stanton

By appealing to how her audience feels disparaged, Stanton is able to solidify her argument for women's rights and make it more resounding in their eyes. Stanton recognizes and empathizes with the members of her audience and refers consistently to her herself and them as “we”, putting them against the common enemy of the male dominated society. Stanton says “We ask women’s enfranchisement” which unifies women against the government that prohibits women’s right. To further emphasize women’s lack of involvement in society Stanton points out how to even stay remotely relevant and maintain a “foothold” women must conform to man, “To keep a foothold in society, women must be as near like man as possible, reflect his ideas, opinions, virtues, motives, prejudices, and vices.”. By saying this she relates to her audience and attempts to get those opposed to see her side emotionally. Stanton uses very little emotional appeal, as her speech circles primarily around logic and ethical thinking; however she closes with “surely a government of the most virtuous educated men and women would better represent the whole and protect the interests of all than could the representation of either sex alone.” tugging on the heart-strings of those who oppose her to make all people equal.