Divulgence as Empowerment: Sharing Private Writing as a Feminist Pedagogical Approach in the First-Year Writing Classroom

Author

• Rachel Goldenberg, University of Central FloridaFollow

Keywords

feminist, writing, empowerment, first-year, composition, pedagogy

Abstract

This thesis explores divulgence as a feminist pedagogical practice in first-year writing, conceptualized as a recursive movement between private writing and relational sharing. Drawing on feminist rhetorical theory, expressivist approaches to personal writing, and sociocultural perspectives on language and identity, divulgence is framed as a structured classroom ecology in which students engage in low-stakes journaling, invitational reading events, and reflective writing that foregrounds shifts in context, audience, and purpose. Using qualitative methods including classroom observation, analysis of student participation and writing practices, and instructor reflection, this study examines how divulgence operates within institutional and programmatic structures while fostering rhetorical awareness, agency, and community-building. The project situates private writing as a space for self-directed exploration and demonstrates how intentional opportunities for sharing transform individual reflection into collective knowledge-making. By tracing the interplay among journaling, reading events, and metacognitive reflection, this thesis shows how students develop critical consciousness and engage ethically with peers within socially situated composing processes. Conceptualizing divulgence across theoretical, methodological, and practical dimensions, this work positions the pedagogy as both a framework for understanding relational writing practices and a set of classroom enactments responsive to diverse linguistic, cultural, and institutional contexts. Ultimately, the study highlights how feminist-informed writing pedagogy can cultivate inclusive learning environments that support belonging, reflective practice, and the development of empowered writing communities.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Wood, Shane

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

Department of Writing and Rhetoric

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053249

Release Date

5-15-2028

STARS Citation

Goldenberg, Rachel, "Divulgence as Empowerment: Sharing Private Writing as a Feminist Pedagogical Approach in the First-Year Writing Classroom" (2026). Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026. 74.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/gradstudies_etd_2026/74