Date of Award

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr. Megan Eatman

Committee Member

Dr. Aga Skrodzka

Committee Member

Dr. Michelle Smith

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study stay-at-home mothers’ engagement with the prevailing discourse surrounding them. Staying home and engaging in "invisible and unpaid" labor has led this group of mothers to be out of public sight and somewhat voiceless. Thus, public discourse about SAHMs without significant input by SAHMs has resulted in a monolithic and static identity. Using standpoint analysis as the theoretical framework and textual analysis as the methodology, I have analyzed opinion pieces written by SAHMs, published on popular magazine portals, and on their blogs, through which they attempt to navigate this public depiction of themselves. The analysis shows that SAHMs' engagement with public discourse about them can be categorized under three broad themes: overt prejudiced assumptions about SAHMs which are a part of the larger capitalist rhetoric, nuanced negative dismissive rhetoric against SAHMs, and lastly rhetoric of choice in relation to SAHMs.

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