Feminine voices: Ontological dilemmas and re‐visions of gender in spontaneous speech

Abstract

This article offers a qualitative analysis of spontaneously narrated speech. Spontaneous re‐visions of gender, humanity, and competence are examined in three women's explanations of their practices of martial arts. Speakers’ developments of personal themes centered on body confidence, social self‐identity, and competence are analyzed in relation to dominant sociophilosophical presuppositions of dualism. Inferences regarding relational implications are drawn in light of critical communication and feminist perspectives on language, knowledge, power and change.