Depiction of Gender in American Headway Series

Abstract

A great number of researchers interested in designing and producing EFL/ESL materials believe that gender roles and representations can motivate students while learning a foreign language such as English. This comes while some scholars believe that gender representations can hinder the learning process. Ever since the day EFL/ESL experts have determined the significance of gender in EFL/ESL textbooks, a number of studies have been conducted to uncover the prejudices and biases inserted in EFL materials. Linked to previous research articles and studies, the present study aims to investigate how social gender identity is defined through adjectives and photos used in American Headway 5 published by Oxford University Press in 2016. To obtain the objective of the study, the common adjectives used in the conversation section of the American Headway 5 have been detected and counted. Then they were presented in related tables utilizing frequencies. Additionally, the photos all extracted from the book have been tested against gender biases and prejudices. The findings of the study reveal that American Headway 5attempts to demonstrate both men and women equally, albeit some instances of biases have been detected in the pictures. The findings of the current research can be used by materials developers, syllabus designers as well as EFL/ESL practitioners.