Feminist Rhetorical Science Studies: Human Bodies, Posthumanist Worlds (Studies in Rhetorics and Feminisms)

This edited collection disrupts tendencies in feminist science studies to dismiss rhetoric as having concern only for language, and it counters posthumanist theories that ignore human materialities and asymmetries of power as co-constituted with and through distinctions such as gender, sex, race, and ability. The eight essays of Feminist Rhetorical Science Studies: Human Bodies, Posthumanist Worlds model methodologies for doing feminist research in the rhetoric of science. Collectively they build innovative interdisciplinary bridges across the related but divergent fields of feminism, posthumanism, new materialism, and the rhetoric of science. Each essay addresses a question: How can feminist rhetoricians of science engage responsibly with emerging theories of the posthuman? Some contributors respond with case studies in medical practice (fetal ultrasound; patient noncompliance), medical science (the neuroscience of sex differences), and health policy (drug trials of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration); others respond with a critical review of object-oriented ontology and a framework for researching women technical writers in the workplace. The contributed essays are in turn framed by a comprehensive introduction and a final chapter from the editors, who argue that a key contribution of feminist posthumanist rhetoric is that it rethinks the agencies of people, things, and practices in ways that can bring about more ethical human relations. Individually the contributions offer as much variety as consensus on matters of methodology. Together they demonstrate how feminist posthumanist and materialist approaches to science expand our notions of what rhetoric is and does, yet they manage to do so without sacrificing what makes their inquiries distinctively rhetorical. This Edited Collection Disrupts Tendencies In Feminist Science Studies To Dismiss Rhetoric As Having Concern Only For Language, And It Counters Posthumanist Theories That Ignore Human Materialities And Asymmetries Of Power As Co-constituted With And Through Distinctions Such As Gender, Sex, Race, And Ability. The Eight Essays Of Feminist Rhetorical Science Studies: Human Bodies, Posthumanist Worlds Model Methodologies For Doing Feminist Research In The Rhetoric Of Science. Collectively They Build Innovative Interdisciplinary Bridges Across The Related But Divergent Fields Of Feminism, Posthumanism, New Materialism, And The Rhetoric Of Science. Each Essay Addresses A Question: How Can Feminist Rhetoricians Of Science Engage Responsibly With Emerging Theories Of The Posthuman? Some Contributors Respond With Case Studies In Medical Practice (fetal Ultrasound; Patient Noncompliance), Medical Science (the Neuroscience Of Sex Differences), And Health Policy (drug Trials Of The U.s. Food And Drug Administration); Others Respond With A Critical Review Of Object-oriented Ontology And A Framework For Researching Women Technical Writers In The Workplace. These Contributions Are In Turn Framed By A Comprehensive Introduction And A Final Chapter From The Editors, Who Argue That A Key Contribution Of Feminist Posthumanist Rhetoric Is That It Rethinks The Agencies Of People, Things, And Practices In Ways That Can Bring About More Ethical Human Relations. Individually The Contributions Offer As Much Variety As Consensus On Matters Of Methodology. Together They Demonstrate How Feminist Posthumanist And Materialist Approaches To Science Expand Our Notions Of What Rhetoric Is And Does, Yet They Manage To Do So Without Sacrificing What Makes Their Inquiries Distinctively Rhetorical-- Essays Forge Innovative, Interdisciplinary Connections Through Four Key Frameworks--posthumanism, Feminist New Materialism, Posthumanist Rhetoric, And Feminist Posthumanist Rhetoric--and Develop Theoretical And Methodological Approaches For Engaging With Posthumanism As Feminist Rhetoricians Of Science-- Introduction : Situating Feminist Rhetorical Science Studies / Amanda K. Booher And Julie Jung -- Of Complexity And Caution : Feminism, Object-oriented Ontology, And The Practices Of Scholarly Work / Kyle P. Vealey And Alex Layne -- Flat Ontologies And Everyday Feminisms : Revisiting Personhood And Fetal Ultrasound Imaging / Jen Talbot -- The Inconvenience Of Meeting You : Rereading Non/compliance, Enabling Care / Catherine Gouge -- Mattering Gender : Technical Communication And Human Materiality / Jennifer Bay -- How Good Brain Science Gets That Way : Reclaiming The Scientific Study Of Sexed And Gendered Brains / Jordynn Jack -- Representing Without Representation : A Feminist New Materialist Exploration Of Federal Pharmaceutical Policy / Daniel J. Card, Molly M. Kessler, And S. Scott Graham -- Embodied Vernacularity At The Fda : Feminism, Epistemic Authority, And Biomedicla Activism / Liz Barr -- Becoming-thinking Otherwise, Rhetorically / Amanda K. Booher And Julie Jung. Edited By Amanda K. Booher And Julie Jung. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Prologue 12 Introduction 29 1. Of Complexity and Caution 61 2. Fat Ontologies and Everyday Feminisms 95 3. The Inconvenience of Meeting You 125 4. Mattering Gender 152 5. How Good Brain Science Gets That Way 175 6. Representing without Representation 194 7. Embodied Vernacularity at the FDA 216 8. Becoming-Thinking Otherwise, Rhetorically 238 Contibutors 260 Index 262 Series Description 272 Other Titles in the Series 273 Back Cover 275 "Essays forge innovative, interdisciplinary connections through four key frameworks ... posthumanism, feminist new materialism, posthumanist rhetoric, and feminist posthumanist rhetoric ... and develop theoretical and methodological approaches for engaging with posthumanism as feminist rhetoricians of science" ..