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ADDRESSING GENDER BIAS ISSUES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EFL TEXTBOOKS: AN ANALYSIS OF GROW WITH ENGLISH
Corresponding Author(s) : Nashriyah
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 3 (2020): May
Abstract
Purpose of the study: A textbook is a book containing comprehensive teaching-learning materials for a certain subject which is regularly used by both teachers and students at school. Textbooks should not contain unfair content or matters, such as gender bias. This study was conducted to examine the extent to which gender bias appears in the EFL textbook mostly employed in Aceh, Indonesia.
Methodology: This research was aimed at investigating the representation levels of gender in English elementary textbooks of Grow with English book 4, book 5, and book 6. A content analysis method was used, for which every page of the textbooks was investigated to explore the five aspects of visibility, priority, feminine/masculine generic construction, activity, and occupation.
Main Findings: The result of the investigation shows that every textbook contains gender bias of various representation levels. Males dominated three categories, namely priority, activity, and occupation. Meanwhile, females are only dominant in the visibility category. The results suggest that the EFL textbooks mostly used in Aceh are still not free from gender bias issues.
Applications of this study: Indonesia is a country where English is used as a Foreign Language (EFL). Indonesian schools are apt to use textbooks written by Indonesian authors as the major source for English instruction in schools. Therefore, researchers should focus their attention on the content of English textbooks used in schools because they become the guidance for these students in learning.
Novelty/Originality of this study: The results of the study suggest that the EFL textbook should be considered for revision to ensure that it is free from unfair content. This is aimed at national textbook designers when they have to produce a textbook for Indonesian learners so that the books they make available to schools are free from gender bias issues in the textbooks.
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- Amini, M., & Birjandi, P. (2012). Gender bias in the Iranian high school EFL textbooks. English Language Teaching, 5(2), 134-146. ttps://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n2p134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n2p134
- Bahman, M., & Rahimi, A. (2010). Gender representation in EFL materials: An analysis of English textbooks of Iranian high schools. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 9, 273-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.149
- Benavot, A., & Jere, C. (2016, March 8). Gender bias is rife in textbooks. World Education Blog. https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/gender-bias-is-rife-in-textbooks/
- Blumberg, R., L. (2014). Eliminating gender bias in the textbook: Pushing for policy reform that promotes gender equality in education. Background paper prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2015, Education for All 2000-2015: Achievements and challenges. UNESCO.
- Brown, R. (1996). Prejudice: Its social psychology. Blackwell.
- Cavanagh, S. (1997) Content analysis: Concepts, methods, and applications. Nurse Researcher, 4, 5-13. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr1997.04.4.3.5.c5869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7748/nr1997.04.4.3.5.c5869
- Chen, P. (2008). English teachers should notice gender bias in textbooks. The Science Education Article Collects, 28, 128-130.
- Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
- Hutchinson, T., & Torres, E. (1994). The textbook as an agent of change. ELT Journal, 48(4), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315
- Kabeer, N. (2003). Gender inequality in educational outcomes: A household perspective. Paper commissioned for the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003/4, The Leap to Equality. UNESCO.
- Karlina, N. (2019). The impact of women empowerment in women’s role increased the program towards a healthy and prosperous family (P2WKSS) Garut Regency. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(3), 59-66. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.739 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.739
- Lawrence, W. P. W. (2011). Textbook evaluation: A framework for evaluating the fitness of The Hong Kong New Secondary School (NSS) Curriculum (Master’s thesis). University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Lee, J. F. K., & Collins, P. (2006). Gender representation in Hong Kong English textbooks. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Gender Equity Education in the Asian-Pacific Region: Challenges and Possibilities in Gender Equity Education. The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.
- Lei, X. (2006). Sexism in language. Language and Linguistics, 5(1), 87-94.
- Livingstone, S. S. (2012). Numbers are not enough: Why gender inequality in education persists in Kenya. (Master’s thesis). Simon Fraser University, Burnaby.
- Manea, C. N. (2013). The influence of hometown size on the development of gender stereotypes in children. Procedia - Social and Behavioural Sciences, 92, 501-505. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.708 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.708
- Masykuroh, Q., & Fatimah, S. (2019). Girlhood and feminine ideals: Linguistic representation of femininity in Indonesian folktales. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(3), 356-361. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7353 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7353
- Mattu, A., & Hussain, N. (2003). Gender biases and stereotypes in school texts. In A Report of Civil Society Initiative in Curricula and Textbooks Reform Project, The subtle subversion—The State of Curricula and Textbooks in Pakistan (pp. 91-98). Islamabad: Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
- Mukundan, J., & Nimechisalem, V. (2008). Gender representation in Malaysian secondary school English language textbook. Indonesian Journals of English Language Teaching, 4(2), 65-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v2n4p13
- Nabifar, N., & Baghermousavi, M. S. (2015). Social semiotics evaluation of English One by gender. Studies in English Language and Education, 2(2), 84-98. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v2i2.2692 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v2i2.2692
- Nagatomo, D. H. (2011). A critical analysis of gender representation in an EFL textbook. Journal of the Ochanomizu University English Society, 1, 53-61.
- Porreca, K. L. (1984). Sexism in current ESL Textbooks. TESOL Quarterly, 18(4), 704-724. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586584 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3586584
- Rasyidin, A. (2010). Bias gender dalam buku pendidikan Agama Islam
- Sekolah Dasar [Gender bias in Islamic Religious education textbooks of elementary school]. Jurnal Penelitian Keislaman, 7(1), 81-114.
- Rico, N. (1997). Gender-based violence: A human rights issue. United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Women, and Development Unit.
- Sadker, D., & Zittleman, K. (2007). Gender bias from colonial America to today’s classrooms. In J. A. Banks & C. A. M. Banks (Eds.), Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives (pp. 135-169). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Sadker, M. (1979). Sexism in schools. In N. Colangelo, C. H. Foxley, & D. Dustin (Eds.), Multicultural non-sexist education (pp. 220-230). Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
- Salamah, U. (2014). Gender representation in the English textbook: A content analysis of ‘Bright’ for seventh-grade students published by Erlangga. Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University.
- Sheehan, K. (2012). Does gender inequality in education affect educational outcomes? (Bachelor’s thesis). University of Connecticut, Storrs.
- Sheldon, L. E. (1988). Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials. ELT Journal Volume 42(4), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237
- Singh, K. A. (2015). Social psychology. PHI Learning Private Limited.
- Slavin, R. A. (2006). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Pearson Education, Inc.
- Taylor, V., Whittier, N., & Rupp, L. J. (2006). Feminist frontier, 7th ed. McGraw Hill.
- Utomo, I. D., McDonald, P., Hull, T., Rosyidah, I., Hattimah, T., Idrus, N. I., Sadli, S., & Makruf, J. (2007). Gender depiction in Indonesian school textbooks: Progress or deterioration. In XXVI IUSSP International Population Conference (pp. 1-35). Marrakech, Morocco.
References
Amini, M., & Birjandi, P. (2012). Gender bias in the Iranian high school EFL textbooks. English Language Teaching, 5(2), 134-146. ttps://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n2p134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n2p134
Bahman, M., & Rahimi, A. (2010). Gender representation in EFL materials: An analysis of English textbooks of Iranian high schools. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 9, 273-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.149 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.149
Benavot, A., & Jere, C. (2016, March 8). Gender bias is rife in textbooks. World Education Blog. https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/gender-bias-is-rife-in-textbooks/
Blumberg, R., L. (2014). Eliminating gender bias in the textbook: Pushing for policy reform that promotes gender equality in education. Background paper prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2015, Education for All 2000-2015: Achievements and challenges. UNESCO.
Brown, R. (1996). Prejudice: Its social psychology. Blackwell.
Cavanagh, S. (1997) Content analysis: Concepts, methods, and applications. Nurse Researcher, 4, 5-13. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr1997.04.4.3.5.c5869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7748/nr1997.04.4.3.5.c5869
Chen, P. (2008). English teachers should notice gender bias in textbooks. The Science Education Article Collects, 28, 128-130.
Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
Hutchinson, T., & Torres, E. (1994). The textbook as an agent of change. ELT Journal, 48(4), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315
Kabeer, N. (2003). Gender inequality in educational outcomes: A household perspective. Paper commissioned for the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003/4, The Leap to Equality. UNESCO.
Karlina, N. (2019). The impact of women empowerment in women’s role increased the program towards a healthy and prosperous family (P2WKSS) Garut Regency. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(3), 59-66. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.739 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.739
Lawrence, W. P. W. (2011). Textbook evaluation: A framework for evaluating the fitness of The Hong Kong New Secondary School (NSS) Curriculum (Master’s thesis). University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Lee, J. F. K., & Collins, P. (2006). Gender representation in Hong Kong English textbooks. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Gender Equity Education in the Asian-Pacific Region: Challenges and Possibilities in Gender Equity Education. The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.
Lei, X. (2006). Sexism in language. Language and Linguistics, 5(1), 87-94.
Livingstone, S. S. (2012). Numbers are not enough: Why gender inequality in education persists in Kenya. (Master’s thesis). Simon Fraser University, Burnaby.
Manea, C. N. (2013). The influence of hometown size on the development of gender stereotypes in children. Procedia - Social and Behavioural Sciences, 92, 501-505. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.708 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.708
Masykuroh, Q., & Fatimah, S. (2019). Girlhood and feminine ideals: Linguistic representation of femininity in Indonesian folktales. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(3), 356-361. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7353 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7353
Mattu, A., & Hussain, N. (2003). Gender biases and stereotypes in school texts. In A Report of Civil Society Initiative in Curricula and Textbooks Reform Project, The subtle subversion—The State of Curricula and Textbooks in Pakistan (pp. 91-98). Islamabad: Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Mukundan, J., & Nimechisalem, V. (2008). Gender representation in Malaysian secondary school English language textbook. Indonesian Journals of English Language Teaching, 4(2), 65-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v2n4p13
Nabifar, N., & Baghermousavi, M. S. (2015). Social semiotics evaluation of English One by gender. Studies in English Language and Education, 2(2), 84-98. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v2i2.2692 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v2i2.2692
Nagatomo, D. H. (2011). A critical analysis of gender representation in an EFL textbook. Journal of the Ochanomizu University English Society, 1, 53-61.
Porreca, K. L. (1984). Sexism in current ESL Textbooks. TESOL Quarterly, 18(4), 704-724. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586584 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3586584
Rasyidin, A. (2010). Bias gender dalam buku pendidikan Agama Islam
Sekolah Dasar [Gender bias in Islamic Religious education textbooks of elementary school]. Jurnal Penelitian Keislaman, 7(1), 81-114.
Rico, N. (1997). Gender-based violence: A human rights issue. United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Women, and Development Unit.
Sadker, D., & Zittleman, K. (2007). Gender bias from colonial America to today’s classrooms. In J. A. Banks & C. A. M. Banks (Eds.), Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives (pp. 135-169). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sadker, M. (1979). Sexism in schools. In N. Colangelo, C. H. Foxley, & D. Dustin (Eds.), Multicultural non-sexist education (pp. 220-230). Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Salamah, U. (2014). Gender representation in the English textbook: A content analysis of ‘Bright’ for seventh-grade students published by Erlangga. Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University.
Sheehan, K. (2012). Does gender inequality in education affect educational outcomes? (Bachelor’s thesis). University of Connecticut, Storrs.
Sheldon, L. E. (1988). Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials. ELT Journal Volume 42(4), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237
Singh, K. A. (2015). Social psychology. PHI Learning Private Limited.
Slavin, R. A. (2006). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Pearson Education, Inc.
Taylor, V., Whittier, N., & Rupp, L. J. (2006). Feminist frontier, 7th ed. McGraw Hill.
Utomo, I. D., McDonald, P., Hull, T., Rosyidah, I., Hattimah, T., Idrus, N. I., Sadli, S., & Makruf, J. (2007). Gender depiction in Indonesian school textbooks: Progress or deterioration. In XXVI IUSSP International Population Conference (pp. 1-35). Marrakech, Morocco.