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"white male backlash" to diversity training: Rhetorical criticism using fantasy theme analysis

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Date Issued:
2002
Summary:
This study investigates the diversity training industry that developed throughout the 1990's and continues to develop. Specifically, this analysis examines the resistance to diversity training that comes from the cultural group of white males. It seems that the way in which diversity training is communicated might cause part of this resistance. The present study seeks to determine why a "white male backlash" exists and what reasons are given to account for the resistance. Thus, a rhetorical criticism using fantasy theme analysis is used. The essays/articles that are examined are mainly from news publications and trade journals but also include white males and diversity trainers. In examining articles that address the subject of the "white male backlash" nine themes are discovered which suggests that some white men construct a rhetorical vision of victimization in reference to diversity training: "Negative Feelings," "Targeted," "Uninformed," "Merit," "Blamed," "Stereotyped," "Must Change," "Uncertain Future" and "Other."
Title: The "white male backlash" to diversity training: Rhetorical criticism using fantasy theme analysis.
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Name(s): Knutson, Kery.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Durnell-Uwechue, Nannetta Y., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2002
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 87 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study investigates the diversity training industry that developed throughout the 1990's and continues to develop. Specifically, this analysis examines the resistance to diversity training that comes from the cultural group of white males. It seems that the way in which diversity training is communicated might cause part of this resistance. The present study seeks to determine why a "white male backlash" exists and what reasons are given to account for the resistance. Thus, a rhetorical criticism using fantasy theme analysis is used. The essays/articles that are examined are mainly from news publications and trade journals but also include white males and diversity trainers. In examining articles that address the subject of the "white male backlash" nine themes are discovered which suggests that some white men construct a rhetorical vision of victimization in reference to diversity training: "Negative Feelings," "Targeted," "Uninformed," "Merit," "Blamed," "Stereotyped," "Must Change," "Uncertain Future" and "Other."
Identifier: 9780493547442 (isbn), 12884 (digitool), FADT12884 (IID), fau:9758 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2002.
Subject(s): Diversity in the workplace
Men, White--Employment
Rhetorical criticism
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12884
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.