Key research themes
1. How are gendered occupational roles portrayed in school textbooks and what impact does this have on reinforcing societal stereotypes?
This research theme investigates the extent and nature of occupational role representations assigned to males and females within school textbooks, emphasizing the prevalence of stereotypical roles and their sociocultural consequences. These portrayals often delineate men in high-status, diverse occupations while confining women to lower-status, stereotypically domestic or caregiving roles. Understanding these patterns is critical as they contribute to the perpetuation of gender biases among students, influencing their perceptions of gender roles and career aspirations.
2. What role do teachers’ awareness and classroom practices play in perpetuating or challenging gender stereotypes linked to textbook content?
This theme explores how teachers perceive, reinforce, or counteract gender biases present in school textbooks through their classroom interactions and pedagogical decisions. It addresses the gap between teachers' stated willingness to combat stereotypes and their actual influence on perpetuating gendered behaviors, highlighting the importance of teacher training and awareness in creating equitable educational environments.
3. How is gender bias manifested in language and visual representations in school textbooks across different cultural contexts, and what methodologies have been effective in analyzing these biases?
This research area focuses on the multimodal analysis of gender bias in school textbooks—examining both verbal language and visual imagery—to uncover patterns of underrepresentation, stereotypical portrayals, and asymmetries in gender depiction. It highlights critical discourse analysis, content analysis, and critical multimodal approaches as effective methodologies for revealing subtle and overt forms of sexism embedded in teaching materials across various national contexts.