The female gender representation in foreign language English textbooks used in Finnish primary schools : a content analysis on the textbook series - Go for it!

Abstract

From a societal and educational perspective, gender equality values have gained more recognition and demand for development over the past few decades. In the Finnish context this phenomenon has been viewed as progressive, but recent studies have shown that there is still a gender bias in educational material. Gender as a societal concept and its usage will be explained and argued in the theoretical framework.

As educational materials are mediators of societal norms, they have a crucial role in transmitting hidden messages of gender to the pupils being exposed to these materials. Thus, there is a need for further research in an aim to reach gender equality and, as stated by the Finnish National Core Curriculum (FNCC), the right to equal education and educationa l opportunities. Therefore, in this research female gender representation in the context of English foreign language textbooks in Finnish basic education will be researched in a deductive content analysis, applying theory testing in a context of gender representation in the Sanomapro Go For It! textbook series. Deductive research approach will be done with the assistance of the gender value guidelines in the FNCC and prior research.

The presence of gender bias can be seen in the linguistic sexism that is present in the Go For It! Textbook series. These gender biases in linguistic sexism are examined with deductive content categories; Adjectives and Emotions, Gender stereotyping with the subcategory of Occupations, Order, Male to Female Ratio, Title of referral and Assumed pronouns. The findings in the Go For It! textbook series assert that there is improvement in comparison to a global level. However, a gender bias in the female representation is still a prominent issue in the educational textbook series.