Presented at a conference for mental health professionals on June 1st, 1993, Princess Diana's speech "Women and Mental Health," at the most superficial level, highlighted the existence of the psychological difficulties experienced by women. However, at a deeper level, this speech also brought up to the surface the oppressive impact of the norms and practices of patriarchal society on the psychological well-being of women. To explore this issue further, the method of feminist criticism will be employed to analyze this artifact.
More specifically, the research question that will be addressed in this study is: "To what extent does this artifact succeed in persuading the audience of the adverse impact of the patriarchal system on women's mental health?" The examination of the rhetorical strategies used in this artifact to achieve its objective of illuminating gender oppression may contribute to rhetorical theory in two ways. First of all, it may identify the unique components of the consciousness-raising rhetoric that has been used by feminists for decades to capture the plight of women and their effectiveness (Sowards and Renegar 535-6). Second, it may contribute to the debate on the relative importance of the rhetors and the auditors in rhetorical theory. Traditional rhetorical theory tends to place the emphasis on rhetors and their ability to persuade, while the audience is relegated to the role of passive objects and targets of persuasion. In contrast, more contemporary versions of the rhetorical theory suggest that the auditors play an active role in their processing of the information (Benoit and Smythe 96-115). The analysis of the rhetorical strategies utilized in this artifact can thus influence theorists' conception of rhetoric and its function.
Before delving into the analysis of the artifact, it is important to consider its components and function, as well as the context in which and for which it was produced...