Introduction to Rhetorical Essay on Gender Equality

Equality is a relatively new revolutionary issue worldwide. From early Christianity to the Renaissance women were completely inferior to men, secluded in job opportunities, limited in wage, and excluded from public life.  Until the end of the 19^th century, women were politically unable to voice their opinions. However, the 19^th amendment, which granted women’s rights, was ratified on August 18^th, 1920. Since then, women gradually were accepted into diverse professions, were non-limited to teaching nor a homestay mother. In 2015, the gender wage gap between full time female and male workers was 20%. Currently in the House of Representatives, women hold 84 of the 435 seats: 19.3%. Nowadays, with so many activist groups and special interest groups having a large voice in our political and everyday lives, it is hard to find an unbiased stance on the issue of gender equality. With education and perseverance, women are realizing that success is nearly impossible if not an equal opportunity is given. Although women are becoming more involved within the government over the past decade, it seems that our country has a hard time accepting the idea that women should have equal opportunity in profession and wage. On the one hand, it is psychologically proven that women have more nurturing, compassionate, and sensitive characteristics to qualify for watching children at home, becoming a teacher, or being a nurse. People also believe that gender equality is too extreme and that women are asking for too much. On the other hand, other people, especially “feminists” today in our society, desire equal treatment and not be discriminated. A wide variety of mediums express their view on gender equality with particular rhetorical strategies to convince society that gender equality is essential. Across formal and informal discourse, why is it that writers with less editorial oversight engage more with the audience through emotional appeal than formal writings?