The #metoo movement has become very popular in America recently. Several women have come forward to share their personal stories about sexual harassment in order to raise awareness about the issue and eliminate the stigma. Aly Raisman, Olympic gold medalist, is one of the many women who has joined the movement and identified herself as a victim of Larry Nassar’s abuse. Nassar was the USA Gymnastics national team doctor; he has since lost his medical license. The gymnasts were expected to seek treatment from Nassar for their injuries. He was accused of sexually harassing several of the gymnasts he treated and has since been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to at least forty years in prison. Raisman gave her personal testimony at Nassar’s
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She appeals to her audience’s emotions. She opens her speech with the statement, “I didn’t think I would be here today. I was scared and nervous. It wasn’t until I started watching…the other brave survivors that I realized I, too, needed to be here.” This opening really shows the audience how emotional the subject is for Raisman to discuss. She points out how important it is to know that you are not alone. She felt comfortable sharing her story when she knew others had too. She is very blunt when using logos to get her message across. She simply states, “If over these years, just one adult listened, and had the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided.” This statement is very logical and straight to the point; however, Raisman is exactly right. Raisman uses ethos, or, USA Gymnastics’ lack thereof, throughout the testimony. She points out the lack of ethics in the organization emphasizing that, “neither USA Gymnastics nor the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have reached out to express sympathy or even offer support.” According to the speech, “the president of the USOC said that the USOC would not conduct an investigation and even defended USA Gymnastics as one of the leaders in…protecting athletes.” Raisman provides this information in order to point out the hypocrisy of the USOC. While the Olympic Committee wants to seem like they are supportive of the victims, they do not want to help bring justice to the situation at hand. They refuse to investigate how Nassar’s abuse was able to continue for so long, but rather side with USA
She appeals to her audience’s emotions. She opens her speech with the statement, “I didn’t think I would be here today. I was scared and nervous. It wasn’t until I started watching…the other brave survivors that I realized I, too, needed to be here.” This opening really shows the audience how emotional the subject is for Raisman to discuss. She points out how important it is to know that you are not alone. She felt comfortable sharing her story when she knew others had too. She is very blunt when using logos to get her message across. She simply states, “If over these years, just one adult listened, and had the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided.” This statement is very logical and straight to the point; however, Raisman is exactly right. Raisman uses ethos, or, USA Gymnastics’ lack thereof, throughout the testimony. She points out the lack of ethics in the organization emphasizing that, “neither USA Gymnastics nor the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have reached out to express sympathy or even offer support.” According to the speech, “the president of the USOC said that the USOC would not conduct an investigation and even defended USA Gymnastics as one of the leaders in…protecting athletes.” Raisman provides this information in order to point out the hypocrisy of the USOC. While the Olympic Committee wants to seem like they are supportive of the victims, they do not want to help bring justice to the situation at hand. They refuse to investigate how Nassar’s abuse was able to continue for so long, but rather side with USA