Organizing Silence: A World of Possibilities (SUNY Series in Speech Communication) (SUNY series in Communication Studies)

A thought-provoking look at how silence is embedded in our language, society, and institutions. Sexual harassment is explored as an example.Organizing Silence is a thought-provoking look at how silence is embedded in our language, society, and institutions. It provides an overview of the varied philosophical approaches to understanding the role of silence and communication. One particular view of silence/communication, as grounded in political and patriarchal frameworks, is given special attention. The author questions not only how dominant groups silence marginalized members of society, but also how marginalized groups privilege and abandon each other. Sexual harassment is given as an example of material and discursive practices that articulate both a micro and macro level of silence, and accounts of both women and men who have been sexually harassed are provided. The book provides an alternative aesthetic perspective as a way of understanding the realities we create, encouraging alternative ways to listen to the silence, and presenting novel possibilities for future research.Robin Patric Clair is Associate Professor of Communication at Purdue University. Organizing Silence Is A Thought-provoking Look At How Silence Is Embedded In Our Language, Society, And Institutions. It Provides An Overview Of The Varied Philosophical Approaches To Understanding The Role Of Silence And Communication. One Particular View Of Silence/communication, As Grounded In Political And Patriarchal Frameworks, Is Given Special Attention. The Author Questions Not Only How Dominant Groups Silence Marginalized Members Of Society, But Also How Marginalized Groups Privilege And Abandon Each Other. The First Word Was Silence -- Silencing Communication -- Organizing Silence -- The Use Of Framing Devices To Sequester Organizational Narratives: Hegemony And Harassment -- The Bureaucratization, Commodification, And Privatization Of Sexual Harassment Through Insitutional Discourse: A Study Of The Big Ten Universities -- Resistance And Oppression As A Self-contained Opposite: An Organizational Communication Analysis Of One Man's Story Of Sexual Harassment -- When Silence Speaks: A Discussion Of Self-contained Opposites -- Artful Practices And The Aesthetic Perspective -- From Whispers To ... Robin Patric Clair. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 217-240) And Indexes. Front Cover Acknowledgments The First Word Was Silence Silencing Communication Organizing Silence The Use of Framing Devices to Sequester The Bureaucratization, Commodification, Resistance and Oppression as a Self-Contained When Silence Speaks: A Discussion Artful Practices and the Aesthetic Perspective From Whispers to Notes Appendices Subject Index