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"Shirley Chisolm Speech"
by Shirley Chisolm

Mr.Speaker, when a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, "Do you type?''

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress.

The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

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Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

What rhetorical technique does the speaker use in the second paragraph, and how does it support her point of view?

(1 point)
Responses

The speaker uses antithesis to point out the difference between jobs that are considered acceptable for women to have and those that aren’t.
The speaker uses antithesis to point out the difference between jobs that are considered acceptable for women to have and those that aren’t.

She uses anaphora to engage her audience and emphasize the idea that women have long been denied jobs that men take for granted.
She uses anaphora to engage her audience and emphasize the idea that women have long been denied jobs that men take for granted.

The speaker makes an allusion to emphasize the long history of oppression that women have faced in the work force.
The speaker makes an allusion to emphasize the long history of oppression that women have faced in the work force.

The speaker uses a metaphor to compare jobs traditionally held by women to jobs traditionally held by men.
The speaker uses a metaphor to compare jobs traditionally held by women to jobs traditionally held by men.
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Answer 1

The correct response is:

The speaker uses antithesis to point out the difference between jobs that are considered acceptable for women to have and those that aren’t.

This technique effectively highlights the contrast between the traditional, often gendered roles women are expected to fill (such as secretaries, librarians, and teachers) versus the roles that are deemed unacceptable for them (such as managers, administrators, and Members of Congress). By using antithesis, Chisholm underscores the irrationality of these societal norms, supporting her overall argument for gender equality in the workplace.