Female Representation in Primary School English Textbooks: The Portrait of Gender in Indonesian EFL Education

Abstract

Scholars have critically discussed numerous reports on gender representations in language textbooks, but much less attention has been paid to female characters depicted in EFL textbooks used in Islamic primary schools. To fill this gap, the current study dissects the identities of female characters in two English language textbooks proposed by Islamic schools and used nationally in all private primary schools in Indonesia under the global Islamic school association. Quantitative content analysis using Brugeilles and Cromer’s framework for character coding scheme and critical discourse analysis were used to critically review the textbook’s content. The findings from sixteen chapters revealed that female characters are underrepresented, and they are depicted as having home and family careers, being sensitive introverts, being involved in low-risk activities, and wearing Islamic-based attire.
 Keywords: content analysis, critical discourse analysis, gender representation, language textbook