“Why We Should All Be Feminists”: Rhetorical Analysis of Adichie's Speech

In 2017, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave a TED talk titled "Why We Should All Be Feminists," in which she discussed her experiences and observations of gender-based discrimination in Nigeria. Despite being written in 2014, the speech remains relevant today, as the issues she raised are universal and relatable. Adichie analyzed derogatory assumptions associated with feminism and the term "feminist," challenging gender stereotypes through the use of repetition, adverbs, and adjectives. Moreover, Adichie employed imagery and symbolism to express her beliefs about feminism and female liberation in her speech "Why We Should All Be Feminists".  This rhetorical analysis essay will explore those techniques and main messages Adichie reflects in his speech.

Rhetorical Analysis of "Why We Should all be Feminists"

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie challenges stereotypes throughout her TED talk through the use of the repetition “very manly and very ugly suit” the adverb “very” accentuates Adichie's inspiration by Nigerian history and tragedies as it presents the pressures put on her from a very young age to be quiet and demure and not to stand out as she was worried if she “looked too feminine” this implies that her life was ruled by men and her Nigerian heritage. Also the use of this intensifier supports the idea that this viewpoint was shared by many and so she was in the minority due to her gender. Furthermore, the adjective “manly” presents the good qualities traditionally associated with men which could reveal that in some way Adichie feels like she is in the shadow of men as she feels the need to be associated with a man in order for her to be treated seriously. Some Nigerian men, all strangers, advised her that she should never call herself a feminist, because feminists are all unhappy and hate men. The study of gender, in Africa, is too often taboo because there is no equality of insight between women and men. Yet Adichie wears her “shiny lip gloss and (my) girly skirt” this visibly imposes on the base stereotypes of the aged society of Nigeria. Also the adjectives "shiny” and “girly'' accentuate Adichie's gender and her expression and celebration of it and so she is visibly going against the stereotypes of the usual Nigerian culture. This shows how much gender means to Adichie as she finds herself in the firing line in a culture where respect is highly valued as usually in Nigerian culture women wear wraps some of which are designed for day to day activities and others for formal occasions. This is also seen as Adichie explains “more of us should reclaim that word'' the use of the pronoun “us” classifies feminists as a family which empowers other women almost like a revolution further exemplifying the fact that Adichie supports going against stereotypes and is almost like a martyr and role model for other women.

In Adichie's speech she also uses imagery and symbolism to express her beliefs on feminism and the movementof female liberation which in Adichies situation comes in time. For instance, the use of the metaphor “still feel very vulnerable in the face of gender expectations'' suggests that women are still victims and the hands of most men as their rights and beliefs still seem in the control of men despite the slow movement of women's rights, yet we have to take into consideration that Nigeria is not western and so our ideals do not carry the same weight there and so women's right may be lessened and take longer to become important. Additionally, the use of the adjective “vulnerable” depicts a prey and predator relationship where a woman universally becomes prey. Furthermore, the phrase “gender expectations'' strikes a chord within many women especially in Nigeria as ages as young as 12-13 are affected due to girls leaving school earlier than boys and being expected to marry before 20, 5% of men are married at 20 yet 50% of women are married at the same age.

Furthermore, Adichie uses imagery to create a description of her brother “he is also a kind, good looking, lovely man and he's very masculine” this phrase reminds the listener that not all men are the enemy and that young men represent the vitality and life of feminism. As well as this, Adichie is removing women from being the victim in this scenario as she acknowledges that feminism isn't just a female agenda in fact it's a human agenda which is appreciated by many different people. The use of the triple “kind,good looking,lovely” further exemplifies that women and men can make a difference and that men who support feminism aren't weak or demure like their female counterparts are often presented to be as well as this it is a turning point in this speech as up until now the audience see women as victims and feminsim is illustrated as failing yet the mention of male support provides hope. Also, Adichie wants her listeners to realise that feminism isn't just to support women going against male power, it's also about male empowerment as it is also unfair to put pressure on males to fulfill gender specific roles. Inorder to appeal to her base male audience Adichie uses the adjective “masuline” combined with the adverb “very” to remind them that feminism is not weak but also to denote that males shouldnt feel pressured to look after women if that is not their choice as masculinity can be toxic and damaging to mental health. Similarly Adichie is going against toxic masculinity when talking about feminism as well as going against the gender stereotypes of women in order to create equal rights for both genders holistically.

Conclusion

References

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