Conclusions

When examining Harlot's special issue from a non-meta perspective, we learned a number of rhetorical lessons about women's experiences with family. We learned about the ways infertility is framed, how family is defined in our culture, and the very real effects these framings and definitions have on our culture (Arola). We learn how a lesbian mother humorously navigates assumptions about motherhood and LGBTQ with teachers, students, parents, and children (Balay).

We discover how different media are remediating family roles (LaVecchia), emphasizing motherhood as the most important aspect of a woman's identity (Ingalls), and how the Internet is transforming mother-daughter relationships (McLeod Rogers). We discover the ways Facebook is changing how we interact with family and friends (Spears & Driscoll). We read about the effects of an abusive mother and how one moves on carrying this history (Hunt). We come to understand the significance of family rituals like the carvings of a family name on a tree (Davies) and the effect a father's gastronomical practices can have on his daughter and her memories.

And, we learn that the chiasmus of Plato's statement "Necessity is the mother of invention," is also accurate: Mother is the necessity of invention. Based on the submissions we received, Mother with a capital M appears to be one of the dominant influences with which people consider and write about the rhetoric of family.

When examining our research from a meta perspective, we also learned a number of important lessons. Our survey has helped us understand the place of Harlot in the academy. The survey has helped us understand the significance of CFSs and the dissatisfaction many of our authors have with traditional compositions. It has helped us appreciate how assumptions about referential reading practices are discouraging to authors. And, most importantly, it has helped us understand better the need to express emotion and feel empowered by one's work and contribution to academics, whether or not it be in traditional forms and styles.