The purpose of this study is to examine how rhetoric functions in the Alternative Birth Movement (ABM). In particular, communication published by movement leaders will be examined to discover how rhetoric propels the movement from one stage to the next as well as how rhetoric facilitates the goals of the movement. When the ABM began in the early 1970s, it faced strong opposition from medical organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Through the use of powerful rhetoric, however, the movement was able to withstand pressure from the opposition, attract members, and move toward achieving its goals. To understand the functions of rhetoric throughout the alternative birth movement, this study combines Leland Griffin's method of examining movements in phases with Charles Stewart's functional perspective. The study will address the following research questions: 1. How does rhetoric progress the movement from one stage to another? 2. How does rhetoric facilitate the goals of the movement? / Graduation date: 2012