Verbal Sparring and Apologetic Points: Politeness in Gendered Argumentation Contexts

Abstract

This essay argues that ideals of cooperation or adversariality in argumentation are not equally attainable for women. Women in argumentation contexts face oppress-sive limitations undermining argument success because their authority is un-dermined by gendered norms of po-liteness. Women endorsing or, alter-natively, transgressing feminine norms of politeness typically defend their au-thority in argumentation contexts. And yet, defending authority renders it less legitimate. My argument focuses on women in philosophy but bears the implication that other masculine dis-course contexts present similar double binds that urge social and political change.