Innovation in Language Learning

From a feminist stylistic perspective, this paper explores the linguistic and stylistic features that are employed in the process of advocacy for women's rights within American caucuses.  Drawing on the framework developed by Sara Mills (1995) and supported by Jeffries (2010), this paper examines selected speeches from both women-led and mixed-gender caucuses to uncover how language functions as a tool for advocacy. This paper hypothesizes that in the discourse of caucuses, the choice of words, syntax patterns, and use of rhetorical techniques encodes and constructs gendered identities and therefore gender roles are reinforced and reflected through power dynamics via the deliberate use of these linguistic features. The findings highlight the crucial role that stylistic choices play in influencing public opinion and policy by revealing ways in which language is used to challenge patriarchal conventions, promote gender equality, and motivate support for women's issues. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of feminist stylistics as a critical tool when scrutinizing how advocacy is crafted, interpreted, and performed linguistically.