United States social worker and reformer, Florence Kelley, in her speech before the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, argues for child labor laws and improved conditions for working women. Kelley’s purpose is to inform readers about the unjust ways of child labor and women’s working conditions. Florence Kelley uses multiple rhetorical techniques, along with an urgent tone, in order to emphasize the importance of change that is necessary in the labor laws of children in her readers.
At the beginning of her speech, Kelley appeals to the emotions of her readers in order to instill a sense of guilt in each of them. She addresses the fact that “while we sleep, little white girls will be working...eleven hours at night” because there are no child labor laws. Knowing that children as young as thirteen years old are working all night, creates guilt in her readers, especially parents. Later, in paragraph eight, Kelley considers that women would be more likely to argue for child labor laws because they are generally more caring and compassionate. She also appeals to the readers’ emotions by disclosing that because New Jersey repealed a law concerning the …show more content…
When Kelley illustrates that “Alabama does better than New Jersey,” the audience realizes that the population of Alabama is doing better than the people in New Jersey in terms of child labor laws. Kelley also states that in years past “New Jersey took a long backward step”. This backward step she references is also true to the people’s actions concerning the movement on child labor laws. Kelley hopes by creating this sense of rivalry between states could potentially generate a race towards passing child labor laws. The use of personification is effective in advancing her argument because it will persuade her audience to take action and better their states’ laws on child