The New Welfare Queen: A Narrative Analysis of Mitt Romney's 47% Speech

<p>Mitt Romney's "47%” speech drew substantive media criticism for its unabashed description of those individuals who do not pay income tax as "entitled,” and guaranteed to vote for Barack Obama. The study argues that the speech, which, when released, had a meaningful impact on polls in swing states and likely voters, appeals to the narrative of the welfare queen, a longstanding social narrative about entitlement spending. By using Walter Fisher's (1984) Narrative Paradigm as a lens of critical analysis, I argue that Romney's appeal to a particular narrative was a persuasive decision based on his limited audience. By appealing to the welfare queen narrative, however, Romney furthers an existing stereotype that is ultimately damaging for both future policy actions, and individuals on entitlement spending.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in Communication

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Coker, Calvin Richard

Contributors dc:contributor

• Elizabeth Dudash

• Mitt Romney
• narrative paradigm
• welfare queen
• 47% speech
• Walter Fisher
• Communication

Statement dc:rights

• © Calvin Richard Coker

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1060

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2061