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Kamala Harris's first speech as Vice President of the United States: A reflection of feminism on language

Year 2024, Volume: 6 Issue: 10, 245 - 262, 01.04.2024

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the manifestation of the Spirit of Feminism in Kamala Harris's inaugural speech as Vice President of the United States. The research aimed to categorize the many manifestations of the Spirit of Feminism in Kamala Harris's First Speech and examine the statements made in the speech. This study employed a qualitative research design and utilized the Descriptive method. The data was sourced from a transcript video of Kamala Harris, which was broadcast on November 8, 2020, on YouTube under the channel name CNBC Television. The utterances from that video were gathered by selecting and emphasizing the spoken words. The dataset for this investigation consisted of 13 utterances. The analysis revealed a total of 13 utterances, comprising 3 instances of education equality, 3 instances of gender equality, 1 instance of equal liberty, 3 instances of rights for women as a social class, and 3 instances of prejudice and discrimination.

References

  • Amaireh, H. A. (2022). Corpus-based analysis of the feminine style of Kamala Harris’ discourse: Women (not men) are the backbone of America’s democracy and economy. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 12(9), 1762–1769. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1209.08
  • Arif, S., H. K, R. R. F., & Setyorini, A. (2022). Speech act analysis of Kamala Harris's victory speech and its contribution to teaching pragmatics. Undergraduate Conference, 2(August), 126–133. http://conference.upgris.ac.id/index.php/allure/article/view/2976%0Ahttp://conference.upgris.ac.id/index.php/allure/article/download/2976/1694
  • Ariska, E., & Yanti, Y. (2022). The expressive speech acts in Kamala Harris` victory speech: A study of multicultural values. Journal of Cultura and Lingua, 3(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.37301/culingua.v3i1.105
  • Cassidy, B. S., & Liebenow, H. A. (2021). Feminine perceptions of Kamala Harris positively relate to evaluations of her candidacy. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 21(1), 29–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12243
  • Dewi, G. A. K., Jendra, I. M. I. I., & Sulatra, I. K. (2022). Feminism is portrayed in the main character of the movie Maleficent 2, Mistress of Evil. Elysian (English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies) Journal, 2(2), 1–10. https://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/elysian/article/view/2471/2672
  • England, P., Levine, A., & Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(13), 6990–6997. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1918891117
  • Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction - Rosemarie Tong - Google Buku. (n.d.). https://books.google.co.id/books?id=XT5GAQAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright&hl=id#v=onepage&q&f=false
  • Garg, S., Suenderhauf, N., & Milford, M. (2022). Semantic–geometric visual place recognition: a new perspective for reconciling opposing views. International Journal of Robotics Research, 41(6), 573–598. https://doi.org/10.1177/0278364919839761
  • Gu, L. (2013). Language and gender: Differences and similarities. Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference on Advances in Social Science, Humanities, and Management, 43(3188). https://doi.org/10.2991/asshm-13.2013.46
  • Handayani, W. (2021). Revealing the meanings of prince Harry’s first speech after royal split: Systemic functional grammar analysis. Journal of Language and Literature, 21(2), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v21i2.3190
  • Hannam, J. (2007). June Hannam.
  • Immelman, A. (2020). The political personality of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Department of Psychology Saint John's University College of Saint Benedict Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics. December 2019.
  • Joseph, B. C., Hartanti, L. P., & Leliana, A. (2022). The use of women's language features by Kamala Harris in the vice-presidential debate. Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Arts and Humanities 2021 (IJCAH 2021), 618(Ijcah), 285–290. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211223.050
  • Mukrimaa, S. S., Nurdyansyah, Fahyuni, E. F., YULIA CITRA, A., Schulz, N. D., غسان, د., Taniredja, T., Faridli, E. M., & Harmianto, S. (2016). No 主観的健康感を中心とした在宅高齢者における 健康関連指標に関する共分散構造分析 [Covariance structure analysis of health-related indicators for elderly people living at home, focusing on subjective sense of health]. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar (Vol. 6, Issue August).
  • Mulyani, A. B. S. (2014). Language and gender: Toward a critical feminist linguistics. JOLL: Journal of Language and Literature, 14(2), 409–415. http://download.portalgaruda.org/article.php?article=491581&val=10038&title=LanguageandGender:TowardaCriticalFeministLinguistics
  • Piñeiro-otero, T., Martínez-rolán, X., & Piñeiro-otero, T. (2021). Say it to my face : Analysing hate speech against women on Twitter. 1–16.
  • Piscopo, J. M. (2015). States as gender equality activists: The evolution of quota laws in Latin America. Latin American Politics and Society, 57(3), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-2456.2015.00278.x
  • Quintana, S. M., Boykin, A. W., Fuligni, A., Graham, S., Ortiz, S., & Worrell, F. C. (2012). Ethnic and racial disparities in education: Psychology’s contributions to understanding and reducing disparities. American Psychological Association-Presidential Task Force on Educational Disparities, 1–121. http://www.apa.org/ed/resources/racial-disparities.pdf
  • Roberts, J. D., Dickinson, K. L., Hendricks, M. D., & Jennings, V. (2022). “I can’t breathe”: Examining the legacy of American racism on determinants of health and the ongoing pursuit of environmental justice. Current Environmental Health Reports, 9(2), 211–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00343-x
  • Rowlett, B. (2021). Big sister: Feminism, conservatism, and conspiracy in the Heartland (Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield: University of Illinois Press, 2018, $24.95). Pp xii+ 201. Journal of American Studies. https://search.proquest.com/openview/e740d4aee70979cde1de2ad0e322b4f8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=48665
  • Salaam, K. Y. (1979). Women’s rights are human rights. Black Scholar 10(6–7). https://doi.org/10.1080/00064246.1979.11414043
  • Sam, B., Iye, R., Ohoibor, M., Umanailo, M. C. B., Rusdi, M., Rahman, A. B. D., & Hajar, I. (2019). Female feminism in the customary island of Buru. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(8), 1877–1880.
  • Smith, J. L., Paul, D., & Paul, R. (2007). No place for a woman: Evidence for gender bias in evaluations of presidential candidates. 29(3), 225–233.
  • Tsani, N. K., & Ratnadewi, D. (2022). Women and racism in Kamala Harris' Speeches: A critical discourse analysis. 2069(8), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.29300/ling.v8i1.5533 Walters, M. (2005). Feminism. A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.

Kamala Harris's first speech as Vice President of the United States: A reflection of feminism on language

Year 2024, Volume: 6 Issue: 10, 245 - 262, 01.04.2024

Abstract

Introduction

Kamala Harris delivered her inaugural speech on Saturday, November 7, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware. She was attired in a white dress, which was observed during the live feed of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory speech on the ABC News YouTube channel. The study aimed to examine the delivery of feminism in a speech. The objective of the study is to assess the extent to which Kamala Harris's speech has influenced women in the United States.

Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

Concepts
Prioritizing the emancipation of women, the term "feminism" encompasses political and social ideologies as well as ethical principles. The perception that women are irrational and emotive prevents them from attaining political leadership positions, thereby diminishing their prestige. Feminism originated from women's aspiration for gender equality with men (Hannam, 2007). The women who produced these works demonstrate their pursuit of equal rights, particularly in the field of education. Subsequently, in the wake of the French Revolution, women began to exhibit a keen interest in innovative ideas. They assert that the bond between genders has been successfully eradicated and has transformed into multiple factions that have rejected conventional ideas about femininity throughout that era and strived to dismantle masculine dominance. In her book on Feminism, Hannam (2007:22) provides a concise definition of feminism as the recognition of the unequal distribution of power between genders, where women are placed in a subordinate position to men. The belief that the societal position of women can be changed due to its constructed nature and emphasis on women's independence and self-governance.

Literature Review
The term "language and gender" pertains to the interplay between linguistic expressions associated with masculinity and femininity. Gender disparities manifest in the statements, lifestyles, and perspectives of both men and women (Gu, 2013). The majority of the research's findings support the notion that women are incompetent language users and that their language is inferior. Many feminist academics from many disciplines take the initiative to rethink and reinterpret gender and language in reaction to such "sexist" discoveries. They use a variety of strategies, but two prominent ones are the "dominance" and "difference" viewpoints.



Method
This study examined the inaugural address delivered by Kamala Harris. This study utilized a qualitative research methodology, indicating the need for thorough examination and the absence of any quantitative conclusions. Creswell (2009:33) defines qualitative research as a method for analyzing the responses of individuals or groups to social or human issues.

Results and Discussion (Optional)
The researcher disseminated the research findings and analysis through a YouTube channel called "CNBC Television" on November 8, 2020, in order to carry out this investigation. After conducting a thorough examination of Kamala Harris's inaugural speech video, which involved watching her speech on "CNBC Television" published on November 8, 2020, and carefully reviewing the transcripts, I identified and marked the sections of the speech that embodied feminist ideals. Subsequently, the researcher annotated certain words spoken by Harris and assigned numerical values to the selected sections for the purpose of study. Thirteen statements were to be examined within six categories of spiritual feminism, which encompass education equality, gender equality, equal liberty, consciousness against misogyny, women's rights as a social class, and prejudice and discrimination.

Conclusion and Recommendations
Kamala Harris' inaugural address as Vice President of the United States dismantled gender and racial obstacles, acknowledged the hardships endured by previous generations, advocated for harmony, and underscored the significance of female perspectives and inclusivity. The emphasis on leadership in the film exemplified the essence of feminism. Her groundbreaking election serves as a source of motivation for women and girls globally, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and gender parity in both governance and society.

References

  • Amaireh, H. A. (2022). Corpus-based analysis of the feminine style of Kamala Harris’ discourse: Women (not men) are the backbone of America’s democracy and economy. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 12(9), 1762–1769. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1209.08
  • Arif, S., H. K, R. R. F., & Setyorini, A. (2022). Speech act analysis of Kamala Harris's victory speech and its contribution to teaching pragmatics. Undergraduate Conference, 2(August), 126–133. http://conference.upgris.ac.id/index.php/allure/article/view/2976%0Ahttp://conference.upgris.ac.id/index.php/allure/article/download/2976/1694
  • Ariska, E., & Yanti, Y. (2022). The expressive speech acts in Kamala Harris` victory speech: A study of multicultural values. Journal of Cultura and Lingua, 3(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.37301/culingua.v3i1.105
  • Cassidy, B. S., & Liebenow, H. A. (2021). Feminine perceptions of Kamala Harris positively relate to evaluations of her candidacy. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 21(1), 29–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12243
  • Dewi, G. A. K., Jendra, I. M. I. I., & Sulatra, I. K. (2022). Feminism is portrayed in the main character of the movie Maleficent 2, Mistress of Evil. Elysian (English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies) Journal, 2(2), 1–10. https://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/elysian/article/view/2471/2672
  • England, P., Levine, A., & Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(13), 6990–6997. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1918891117
  • Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction - Rosemarie Tong - Google Buku. (n.d.). https://books.google.co.id/books?id=XT5GAQAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright&hl=id#v=onepage&q&f=false
  • Garg, S., Suenderhauf, N., & Milford, M. (2022). Semantic–geometric visual place recognition: a new perspective for reconciling opposing views. International Journal of Robotics Research, 41(6), 573–598. https://doi.org/10.1177/0278364919839761
  • Gu, L. (2013). Language and gender: Differences and similarities. Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference on Advances in Social Science, Humanities, and Management, 43(3188). https://doi.org/10.2991/asshm-13.2013.46
  • Handayani, W. (2021). Revealing the meanings of prince Harry’s first speech after royal split: Systemic functional grammar analysis. Journal of Language and Literature, 21(2), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v21i2.3190
  • Hannam, J. (2007). June Hannam.
  • Immelman, A. (2020). The political personality of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Department of Psychology Saint John's University College of Saint Benedict Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics. December 2019.
  • Joseph, B. C., Hartanti, L. P., & Leliana, A. (2022). The use of women's language features by Kamala Harris in the vice-presidential debate. Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Arts and Humanities 2021 (IJCAH 2021), 618(Ijcah), 285–290. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211223.050
  • Mukrimaa, S. S., Nurdyansyah, Fahyuni, E. F., YULIA CITRA, A., Schulz, N. D., غسان, د., Taniredja, T., Faridli, E. M., & Harmianto, S. (2016). No 主観的健康感を中心とした在宅高齢者における 健康関連指標に関する共分散構造分析 [Covariance structure analysis of health-related indicators for elderly people living at home, focusing on subjective sense of health]. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar (Vol. 6, Issue August).
  • Mulyani, A. B. S. (2014). Language and gender: Toward a critical feminist linguistics. JOLL: Journal of Language and Literature, 14(2), 409–415. http://download.portalgaruda.org/article.php?article=491581&val=10038&title=LanguageandGender:TowardaCriticalFeministLinguistics
  • Piñeiro-otero, T., Martínez-rolán, X., & Piñeiro-otero, T. (2021). Say it to my face : Analysing hate speech against women on Twitter. 1–16.
  • Piscopo, J. M. (2015). States as gender equality activists: The evolution of quota laws in Latin America. Latin American Politics and Society, 57(3), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-2456.2015.00278.x
  • Quintana, S. M., Boykin, A. W., Fuligni, A., Graham, S., Ortiz, S., & Worrell, F. C. (2012). Ethnic and racial disparities in education: Psychology’s contributions to understanding and reducing disparities. American Psychological Association-Presidential Task Force on Educational Disparities, 1–121. http://www.apa.org/ed/resources/racial-disparities.pdf
  • Roberts, J. D., Dickinson, K. L., Hendricks, M. D., & Jennings, V. (2022). “I can’t breathe”: Examining the legacy of American racism on determinants of health and the ongoing pursuit of environmental justice. Current Environmental Health Reports, 9(2), 211–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00343-x
  • Rowlett, B. (2021). Big sister: Feminism, conservatism, and conspiracy in the Heartland (Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield: University of Illinois Press, 2018, $24.95). Pp xii+ 201. Journal of American Studies. https://search.proquest.com/openview/e740d4aee70979cde1de2ad0e322b4f8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=48665
  • Salaam, K. Y. (1979). Women’s rights are human rights. Black Scholar 10(6–7). https://doi.org/10.1080/00064246.1979.11414043
  • Sam, B., Iye, R., Ohoibor, M., Umanailo, M. C. B., Rusdi, M., Rahman, A. B. D., & Hajar, I. (2019). Female feminism in the customary island of Buru. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(8), 1877–1880.
  • Smith, J. L., Paul, D., & Paul, R. (2007). No place for a woman: Evidence for gender bias in evaluations of presidential candidates. 29(3), 225–233.
  • Tsani, N. K., & Ratnadewi, D. (2022). Women and racism in Kamala Harris' Speeches: A critical discourse analysis. 2069(8), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.29300/ling.v8i1.5533 Walters, M. (2005). Feminism. A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Literary Theory
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Cut Novita Srikandi 0000-0001-9943-3954

Siti Deliani Lubis 0009-0002-1070-9497

Publication Date April 1, 2024
Submission Date February 14, 2024
Acceptance Date March 15, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 6 Issue: 10

Cite

APA Srikandi, C. N., & Lubis, S. D. (2024). Kamala Harris’s first speech as Vice President of the United States: A reflection of feminism on language. Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Ve Eğitim Dergisi, 6(10), 245-262.

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