Along with physical and emotional distinctions there are many gender characteristics that distinguish women from men. The most evident is the attitude women possess towards life's encounters, experiences, and achievements. In Barbara Ehrenreich's essay, "What I've Learned From Men," she explains to her readers how in the prime of her life she discovers that maybe there are some useful things men do that may be of benefit to the modern day woman. Ehrenreich's ability to captivate her female readers is through her use of the rhetorical triangle's element ethos, yet her lack of logos makes her argument all but valid to her male audience. .
Ehrenreich's dissertation undoubtedly possess ethos since she is a female who is depicting the essay through individual experiences with men in society. She gives an account of a personal encounter with a prestigious professor who lures her to a private conversation only to attempt to make sexual advances at her, "it emerged that he was interested in something more substantial than a meeting of minds. I was disgusted, but not enough to overcome 30-odd years of programming in ladylikeness" (250). She reveals how even her, a strong woman of feminist principles acted as an inferior girl towards the professor, and uncontrollably played the traditional position as the confrontational avoiding lady. Ehrenreich use of this private testimony makes her ethos even stronger for her female readers. She empathetically portrays the same level of intelligence towards the matter as the common woman would; yet she is a professional. I feel that it is a successful attempt in keeping female readers involved in the essay.
Although societies perception of women has evolved to the modern day giving her the same benefits as men, she often yields her opportunities with submission. Ehrenreich uses a specific instance where women usually play a feeble role opposed to men.