Female Politicians and Rhetoric: The Case of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

This year, more than 100 women were elected to serve in Congress. Additionally, several women have announced their major-party campaigns for the 2020 Presidential Primary. In light of this historic progress, we must evaluate the ways in which female politicians are portrayed. The field of politics is still primarily dominated by older white men, and therefore many discrepancies exist in the expectations and standards men and women are held to. This thesis provides an in-depth discussion of the stereotype-based rhetorical constructs that female politicians face in their careers. Through extensive research of the rhetoric of many politicians, this thesis also identifies and explains four major rhetorical negotiation strategies that female politicians may use to counter these stereotypes. Lastly, this thesis provides a critical feminist case study examining the rhetoric used by and with regards to freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.