Rhetoric and propriety judgments: reflections from bottled water
ISSN: 1747-1117
Article publication date: 27 July 2020
Issue publication date: 31 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the rhetorical strategies used by organizations in support of propriety judgments concerning their products.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach taken entails discourse and rhetorical analysis of texts produced by leading firms in the bottled water industry, and by the industry’s trade association, surrounding issues of sustainability.
Findings
The analysis reveals rhetorical strategies invoked by firms to legitimate their economic, environmental and social performance.
Research limitations/implications
This paper’s primary contribution is to research that informs the discursive aspects of legitimacy. As well, this study contributes to our nascent understanding of the microfoundations of sustainability.
Originality/value
Our knowledge of how organizations use different discursive strategies in support of legitimacy is relatively underdeveloped. By examining rhetorical strategies used in support of propriety judgments concerning organizations’ environmental, social and economic legitimacy, this study begins to fill gaps in our understanding.
Keywords
Citation
Gauthier, J. and Kappen, J.A. (2021), "Rhetoric and propriety judgments: reflections from bottled water", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 17 No. 6, pp. 861-876. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2019-0295
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited