Research Statement

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 My research interests have a common thread: using research as a tool to advocate for others. My dissertation, titled Miss Monstress: The Trial of Womanhood and Rhetorical Framing of Texas Women on Trial for Murder, involved examining the rhetoric surrounding women accused of violent crimes and the role gendered expectations play in how women on trial are portrayed. I rhetorically analyzed three case studies of women who were charged with murder in Texas. I argued that due to societal expectations placed on women, what takes place is what I call the trial of womanhood: a scrutiny of the ways a woman fails to meet  societal expectations. This rhetorical “trial” takes place both inside the courtroom and outside, in the court of public opinion, and often results in women being misrepresented and receiving harsher (or at times, fatal) sentences. I plan to revise my dissertation into both a book project and at least two articles. While my dissertation focused on case studies within the State of Texas, the trial of womanhood is taking place across the country; future projects will explore this dimension. Building on my analysis of race, gender, and sexuality, I also plan to explore other aspects of identity further and more deeply. Furthermore, I envision taking my research to social justice projects outside of academia, such the Innocents Project or prison reform programs.

In addition, my research extends into studies of cultural rhetorics and communication.For example, I plan to further develop work I began in a class studying the work of Mr. Rogers and the rhetorical strategies he used to communicate compassion and kindness. I envision this work building on Alexandra Klarén’s work in her book On Becoming Neighbors: The Communication Ethics of Fred Rogers and connecting Fred Rogers’ work to Cheryl Glenn and Krista Ratcfliffe’s studies on rhetorical listening. I am also interested in Indigenous Literature and have both published and presented on the topic. I want to research further the ways modern Indigenous authors use storytelling as a form of both resistance and resilience. I plan to offer insights into ongoing conversation cultural rhetorics and counterstories, following the work of scholars such as Shawn Wilson and Aja Martinez.

Finally, I have participated in research on graduate student labor. I know firsthand the struggles, both financially and personally, that take place when you exist in the strange limbo of both university student and employee. During my doctoral studies, I was active in an effort to unionize graduate students and a successful collective campaign to raise graduate student teacher wages. I have also been a part of multiple collaborative conference presentations on the topic of graduate student labor. I plan to continue this research and work in solidarity with graduate students in order to give back to a community I was a part of for so many years. Overall, no matter what topic I research now or in the future, my goal is to use my work to advocate on behalf of those who have been ostracized, marginalized, or are simply in need of support.