Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch: An Augmented Thick Description of #womenswave

L. Corinne Jones: University of Central Florida

Rhetorical Sophistication

In their discussion of the #blacklivesmatter hashtag and hashtags linked to it, like #ferguson, Bonilla and Rosa (2015) argue that hashtags mark ongoing conversations, indicate to Twitter users what a message is “really about” by operating like “library call numbers” (5), and can create publics (6). Importantly though, they argue that some of the associated hashtags like #handsupdontshoot condense arguments and can become symbols for larger movements. They claim that #handsupdontshoot condensed arguments about victim-blaming (8). Similarly, I would suggest that one of the reasons that #blacklivesmatter was so successful was because it condensed an argument: Black lives matter.

This ability to condense an argument points to what Bowers et al (2010) call rhetorical sophistication  Bowers et al. (2010) claim that agitative groups with high levels of rhetorical sophistication have more leverage against control groups (169-171).

#womenswave, on the other hand, did not have an easily condensed argument. It could suggest that women will “flood” the masculinist social structures and systems, but for what purpose and to what end? As discussed in more depth in my qualitative results section, #womenswave does not condense a clear argument, and as such, demonstrates less rhetorical sophistication.

Please click here to go back to my case study of #womenswave.