Amelia Earhart's Speech "A Woman’s Place in Science"

First I want to extensively apologize for the lack of posts over this month since my introduction to this blog. They say it takes on average 21 days to form a habit. I am afraid simple intention does not implemented something new into one's schedule.

I am taking a Rhetorical Criticism communication class my last semester in school, and one of the elements that we looked at as a class was neo-aristotelian criticism. This type of criticism is no longer used very often, because it is very difficult to pinpoint the exact outcome of a speech, which is the basis of the theory. One can assume that events following may have been a result, but it is very complicated to have tangible proof that the speech given had a cause and effect relationship. As a result, this type of criticism has for the most part been phased out. In order to have a full understanding of this concept, each student was asked to locate a speech and lead a class discussion applying the criticism. In the process of looking at possible speeches, I found Amelia Earhart's speech from 1935 on the history channel, after locating the full transcript and recording, this was the artifact I selected to present.

The time constraints for the class discussion limited what aspects of the criticism that we looked at and applied, I will present some of them here. 

In 1935 Amelia Earhart spoke to women of the world over a radio broadcast, with a speech entitled "A Woman's Place in Science". This speech was given two years before her disappearance.

Amelia Earhart was born July 24, 1897. She assisted as a nurse during World War 1, and was 23 the year women received the right to vote. The following year, in 1921, that June Amelia flew solo for the first time. At age 25, she acquired her first airplane, a Kinner Airster. In June 1928, age 31, she became known as “Lady Lindy” for her similarity to Charles Lindbergh, after being the first woman passenger to fly across the Atlantic. The following year when the stock market crashed in 1929, did not slow down her career by much, in 1932 she set a speed record for all pilots, while being the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic. The year she spoke on the radio she completed a non-stop flight from Honolulu to Oakland, Ca. At this point she had written two books, and was married to her publishing associate George Putnam.

Amelia showcases ethos by demonstrating her intelligence, and standing of women in the home, as the basis for the invention of her speech. Her personal style is of a tomboy appearance, but the style of the speech addressing women, she chooses to compete against her personal style as well as the public view of her being not friendly or ladylike. By addressed the speech in a very calm, cool and collected tone, befitting of a respectable educated woman. Her delivery is well worded, keeping it very time conscious for those listening over the radio. She presents her viewpoint as a newscaster might present a story. In this way, she does not present a new form of speaking, instead maintains a way of addressing the public that is well known, and allows the audience to keep the believe that a woman's persona should be one of delicacy.

Neo-Aristotelian criticism continues on beyond some of the basic foundations I have laid out.
I wanted to share this simply because hearing this speech, reading her words, and absorbing it, was so enjoyable for me. Her speech is one for all women to take courage from.

Not only has applied science decreased the toil in the home, but it has provided undreamed of economic opportunities for women. Today, millions of them are earning their living under conditions made possible only through a basically altered industrial system. Probably no scientific development is more startling than the effect of this new and growing economic independence upon women themselves. When the history of our times is written, it must record as supremely significant the physical, psychic and social changes women have undergone in these exciting decades. 

These words, are so powerful and true. I strongly encourage you to listen to the speech she gave, read the words she said, and think about if they are still relevant for us today. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Here is one site that provides the full text of the speech and the ability to listen to it from the broadcast.
http://www.creatinghistory.com/amelia-earhart-a-womans-place-in-science/