Unveiling Persuasive Strategies: Analyzing Meghan Markle’s Advocacy Speeches

Abstract

This research looks at Meghan Markle's advocacy speeches for women's rights through the lens of Richard Perloff's (2017) "Dynamics of Persuasion" theory. The study aims to highlight the components of persuasive messaging found in Meghan Markle’s advocacy speeches given at the Girl Up Leadership Summit, the University of South Pacific, the United Nations, One Young World Summit, and the 125^th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand. The transcripts of these speeches are retrieved from online sources and analyzed considering Perloff’s five persuasive components: Message Structure, Message Content, Framing, Language, and Emotional Appeals.  Descriptive Qualitative methodology is used for the in-depth exploration of persuasive strategies employed in her selected speeches. The findings include different persuasive strategies used by Markle in her selected speeches to build credibility and motivate young women around the world to create incredible futures for themselves and others.