The predominance of Platonic and Aristotelian philosophies in Western culture has affected theories of rhetoric and gender in related ways and set the stage for two millennia of misogyny based on the rhetorical construction of women as "naturally" inferior beings who thus had no ontological right to engage in the dominant knowledge-creating discourses and conversations of their societies. This historical understanding is important to the contemporary student of communication for at least two reasons: (1) students should understand the consequences for communication of the hegemonic role of Platonic and Aristotelian thinking; and (2) students should be familiar with the ways in which the construction of "gender guided" (or "misguided") rhetorical history and theory. Contains 13 references. (NKA)