Feminist listening

K A S S I A WA G G O N E R

“Rhetorical Listening as a Cross Disciplinary

Approach to Feminist Research”

bell hooks

“No longer is it

merely the

absence of

speaking voices

but the absence of

hearing ears.”

Talking Back

The Mindy

Project

Friends

Modern

Family

Etc.

Men prefer activities

to communication.

HEGEMONIC DISCOURSE

• Men: “conversations are

negotiations in which people try

to achieve and maintain the

upper hand if they can” (25).

• Women: “conversations are

negotiations for closeness in

which people try to seek and

give confirmation and support,

and to reach consensus” (25).

SAVED BY THE BELL HOOKS

WHAT IS FEMINIST LISTENING?

• Hearing= auditory sound

• Listening=processing information

• Ratcliffe defines “active listening” as

listening to understand rather than refute.

• Feminist listening is active listening, which

empowers both parties during discourse.

LISTENING AS A PROCESS

•Empathy

•Nonverbal and verbal

feedback

•Patience with the speaker

(positive vs. negative

interruptions)

•Open to new and differing

viewpoints

LISTENING AS A PROCESS

•Dialogic Retention

•Memory skills

•Engagement (asking

questions)

• Interpreting meta-messages

LISTENING AS A PROCESS

•Reciprocity

•Taking turns

• Not dominating the

conversation

• Implies listening should be

practiced

LO

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CO

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MAIN POINTS

• Listening is a skill set to be mastered.

• Listening is equal to or greater than speaking within

communication.

• Listening has the potential to be empowering for

both parties within communication.

• Feminist scholars should embrace and reclaim the

act of listening as a vital part of discourse.

DISCUSSION

•How might a framework of

feminist listening impact or

influence your research or

pedagogy?