Gendered language in schools 1 The case of Greece 4 2. Observing that quantitative research on gender differences seems to be on the rise, we call for renewed Language is an important communication tool in everyday life, and an understanding of how language reflects and shapes gender roles can provide valuable insights into the social construction and Banning gendered language in schools is “completely unnecessary”, the Government had said. Calling girls "sweetie" or boys "mate" in primary school perpetuates gender stereotypes, campaigners say. Literature review Textbook EFL textbooks are intentionally designed to provide students with materials that close to For this reason, language textbook writers and language teachers need to take into account the interplay between gender and language use when designing and using any ELT textbooks. Advertising a new role using masculine terms such as ‘leader’ and ‘direct’, while not always intentional, creates an unwelcoming perception of the role as being intended for a man; something which can discourage many Discover how language and gender studies shed light on the way words shape our understanding of identity and society. This statement will discuss how gender differs from sex and sexuality; will explain what is meant by the term gender binary; will recommend ways educators might use language to reflect the reality of gender diversity Moreover, communication practices can be gendered in many ways that have a substantial effect on speakers and their learning. This glossary is not a definitive list, but is a good starting point. 3 DOI: 10. Some school staff reportedly lacked commitment to or a sense of ownership of the code (Parkes et al. , ‘la table’ in far as language is gendered in educational settings, this will affect girls’ and boys’ development as “schooled subjects,” their experiences of education, and what they get out of it. Important advances were made from the 1960s to the 1980s, when feminist activists used language strategically to highlight Language reflects sociocultural structures, such as gender, and affects individuals' perceptions and cognitions. In research on bullying and violence in schools, distinctions are often made between different forms of violence. A striking example comes from research on gendered language, or words that denote individuals’ gender (e. PDF | On Feb 6, 2024, Tambawoga Chriswell Muchena published Primary school teachers’ views of the use of gender-neutral language to enhance gender equality in schools | Find, read and cite all The field of language and gender is methodologically diverse, encompassing approaches that include conversation analysis, corpus linguistics, critical discourse analysis, discursive psychology PA Archive. I also demonstrate alternatives for research into gender and language classrooms, showing both how the more familiar approaches can be fruitfully developed and how researchers can go beyond them. 1, 2023 International Journal of Language Education 96 gendered language stereotypes (2) how the deconstruction of gendered language stereotypes are represented in the textbook. Language in this area is evolving and changing all the time. The SWET Talk Shop held as a Zoom session on May 13, 2023 focused on how linguistic practices in Japanese and English have evolved to become more gender inclusive. the teaching and learning implications of the findings to raise awareness of the existence of linguistic sexism and gender stereotyping in school textbooks. Harmer, Savigny and Ward (2016) How to gather data about gendered language practices . A recent increase in hostilities towards women and girls, and in reporting of gendered violence and abuse across multiple regions, reflects a shifting landscape of gender relations in education settings requiring urgent attention. The section it published Tuesday, March 18, on athletics revises some of the language but does not substantially change ODE’s guidance. S. 6% point rise in the gender gap in Make it easier for educators to use an inclusive language with students ; Avoid reinforcing some gender stereotypes because of our choice of words ; Involve students in the adoption of an inclusive language by everyone. The researchers determined that kids in the gendered language “In high school, if you had long hair, the teacher would call you up to the front of the class and cut your hair in front of everyone,” Marisol, a 21-year-old transgender woman in Gendered language refers to the use of words and phrases that carry connotations, meanings, or associations tied to a specific gender. Revised October 2018; Revised July 2002, Women in Vol. It’s accurate to call a man who works in the police service a police officer. 2002), replacement of the pronouns “him” and “her” with an artificial genderless pronoun “hen” in schools in Sweden Language and Gender Language and Gender is an introduction to the study of the relation between gender and language use, written by two leading experts in the field. Literature review Textbook EFL textbooks are intentionally designed to provide students with materials that close to Abstract. Widodo, T. You’re not misgendering him, you’re just not gendering him at all. The English language we teach children is unfortunately full of sexism and gender stereotypes. Although the literature has recognized the successes and challenges resulting from the implementation of gender-fair language (GFL) policies in the school domain and beyond, students and teachers still struggle in engaging Vol. in English it's pretty Using language to create gender-inclusive workplaces . Thisisbecauseteach-ersandteachereducatorsnotonlyteachlanguageknowledge,skills The reality of heterogeneity in gendered language practice is evident in work such as Miyazaki's study of shifting pronoun use among Japanese schoolgirls, as well as in Bucholtz's study of new, hybrid forms of cyberfeminism, which attempt to reconcile geek identities with feminist stances. This new edition, thoroughly updated and restructured, brings out more strongly an emphasis on practice and change, while retaining the having literally been in a study session last night about how to de-gender Hebrew, English is actually one of the least gendered languages I've come across 😭 which obviously isn't to say it isn't gendered, but it's so much easier to take the gender out. 3 English language teaching and gender equality 26 Dipuo Gare 3 Country profile: Brazil 28 3. In School A, the two lessons were part of a series of four RSE lessons. Researchers commonly distinguish between physical violence, verbal violence, relational violence and cyber bullying (Catanzaro Citation 2011). ” In addition, gender neutral language focuses on ability and Gendered violence in schools. This means that whether implicitly or explicitly, As a society, we must address toxic gendered behaviour. About; Topics. Most of these studies focused on integrating a lived or person-based curriculum (Banegas & Velázquez, 2014; Norton & Pavlenko, 2004) Activity 1: Examine the Use of Gendered Language in the Media. Graduate School and College of Teacher Education Cagayan State University Maura, Aparri, Cagayan, Philippines Email: enelasolat@gmail. Discover the world's research. A new law came into effect in Bavaria in Germany this week that bans so-called “gender-neutral language” in schools and public bodies. Louis University, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines 2. Gender inequality and discrimination. Locate a section of free- As gender constructs could be disseminated through language, English textbooks could be a fertile arena to maintain or deconstruct traditional gender constructs. , she, Gender 10 - A practical toolkit for primary schools 6 | P a g e Aim: To promote gender equality and tackle gender stereotypes and discrimination to create a gender inclusive learning environment. However, as languages are embedded in cultures, evidence for causal effects are harder to provide. Speaking a gendered language is associated with a 0. 1. The school, more specifically the classroom, is a popular site of investigation for researchers of language and gender. 26858/ijole. . Avoid using gendered words to describe human anatomy: Gendered language plays a huge role in job descriptions and, ultimately, the success of companies hiring for new roles. Since seventh grade students are in their stage to assert their sexual identity, their exposure to English textbook could affect their perception of gendered positions in the society. use a framework to analyse gender balance and gender representation in textbooks 6. Banning gendered language in schools is “completely unnecessary”, the Government had said. The gendered practices are seen in the curriculum, school governance, pedagogy, school culture and support system among others. In schools, the culture change needed to achieve gender equity is not an overnight process. Multiple international studies were incorporated in the analysis In schools, patterns of behavior and gender relations that show gender divisions similar to the practices of capitalist societies are shaped by the gendered practices of teachers and school leaders (Acker, 1997). Below are some best practices (Kapitan, 2017; Trans Care BC [PDF]) Use validating language that affirms all genders: e. When talking about a businesswoman and a businessman, 87. The summary clearly stated that though there were cases where overstrain had occurred in boys, 'the average boy has a greater power of resistance to pressure than the average girl'. books and language used in schools reinforce ideas of how girls and boys should look The language used to describe concepts influences individuals’ cognition, affect, and behavior. There are many tips and guides for using Trans and non-binary inclusive language. Gendered violence in schools has remained an unaddressed issue for decades. Hence, the study delves into the discourse of patriarchy through gendered language in the English for Today (EfT) textbooks for Classes I to V in Bangladesh prescribed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). “everyone,” “people,” and “folks” instead of phrases like “ladies and gentlemen”) Normalize using they/them pronouns—or no pronouns at all (e. all women or cis and trans women, not women and trans women. , 2015). In a society that still upholds the norm of the gender binary—despite the growing numbers of openly trans and gender nonconforming (including nonbinary and two-spirit) young Previous research on incorporating notions of gender and sexuality in language teaching have been mostly conducted in Argentina (Banegas, 2020), South Africa (Jimmyns & Meyer-Weitz, 2019), and Poland (Pakuła et al. 37632 Corpus ID: 257905539; Representation of Gendered Language in English Textbook for Indonesian Junior High Schools @article{Suwastini2023RepresentationOG, title={Representation of Gendered Language in English Textbook for Indonesian Junior High Schools}, author={Ni Komang Arie Suwastini and The paper found that the gendered language used in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria in the qualification and appointment of judicial officers, is gender insensitive, ambiguous and capable of Banning gendered language in schools is “completely unnecessary”, the Government had said. Gebregeorgis, 2016; Lee & Mahmoudi-Gahrouei, 2020; Lestariyana et al. Hence, the integration of GFL in language teaching can have a greater impact in the community and the society. Many researchers have offered various pieces (0 the In a 2011 study, Jennifer Prewitt-Freilino, associate professor at the Rhode Island school of design, along with colleagues, found that countries with gendered languages experienced higher average To consider the importance of language as it pertains to journalism feels redundant. v1i1. 5 percent Gendered language and categorization "reinforces that gender is a strict binary," says Baum, which limits the roles all students can access in school. Inspired by the growing body of research into gender and language education across the globe, directions for future studies in this area are also highlighted. Endorsers therefore of traditional gender roles are more likely to In reviewing language and gender findings, we examine in particular three areas of educational research: classroom interaction, literacy, and second-language learning. In gendered languages, male-inflected parts of speech are generally used for both Language Education, Gender, and Sexuality Benedict Rowlett and Brian W. 1 Gender equality in class: Why does it matter? 29 Luiza Barroso The second theme is Curriculum, as gender equality needs to be a part of daily teaching and learning, cover all subject areas and pervade all learning experiences in the school. Languages differ in the degree to which gender plays a role in their grammatical structure. Schools are uniquely placed within the field of gender Gender Inclusive Writing. Based on the analytical framework developed by the OECD Strength through Diversity project (Cerna et The study includes a number of goals, such as determining how frequently gendered words are used, analyzing inclusive language policies' effectiveness and presence, learning about respondents Gender-inclusive language guidelines (English) - UN Women Gendered language leads to an increased activation of gender schemata in the minds of speakers, and thereby raises the salience of gender distinctions and the significance of gender norms in the minds of speakers. Elyas 1 3 mainstreaming,gender(in)equality,andgenderstereotyping. 492) This sensitivity extends to recognizing biases related to This introduction to the special issue provides a snapshot of why gender in our lives and in language education matters. 7, No. Does 'gendered language' mean words that have genders in certain languages, e. Rights Respecting Schools: Our commitment to being an inclusive school where every young person, regardless of gender is supported and encouraged to Published: March 20, 2025. In fact, the 9 th volume of the Duden , a regularly Substituting gender inclusive language for gender binary language (e. In Bangladesh, primary education spans from Class I to Class V, forming the foundation of the country's educational system. We also summarize each of the articles featured in this special issue. Laboratory High School, Don Honorio Ventura State Keywords – English Language Textbooks, Gender Representation, Junior High School INTRODUCTION Sociolinguistics refers to the study of the relationship between society and language [1]. The news follows reports in the Telegraph that teachers were advised to use gender-neutral language It seems unlikely that primary school teachers would aim to present their pupils with a restricted or unequal view of the world however, research suggests that educators may unknowingly – or unthinkingly – use language or demonstrate behaviour which may perpetuate gender stereotypes (Swinson and Harrop Citation 2009). 5 Previous Research 6 2. 25+ million members; 160+ million publication pages; Language and definitions. Some of these words associated with one gender or another are often at the expense of girls, but they can also have a negative impact on How Can Schools Respond to Gender Differences and Expressions? The Road Ahead; Schools have the responsibility to model, teach, and create conditions in which each child's gender diversity is accepted and Knowing a gendered language already also doesn't necessarily give you a leg up when learning another gendered language. explore how teachers can respond to gender bias and gender stereotypes in textbooks. 2 Gender equality in education 24 Kabalano Pelelekae 2. The news follows reports in the Telegraph that teachers were advised to use gender-neutral language in a lecture organised by the NEU teaching union, replacing words such as “boy” and “girl” with “pupil” or “student”. Philippine Educators and Gender‑Responsive ELT In an attempt to rectify oppressive and discriminatory gender values found in schools, international and national governing bodies agreed to mainstream gender Gendered language plays a huge role in job descriptions and, ultimately, the success of companies hiring for new roles. The research focus for this paper is on how theoretical This introduction to the special issue provides a snapshot of why gender in our lives and in language education matters. (Tarrayo, 2023a, p. like, in Hebrew every other fuckin word is needlessly gendered. Navigating Gendered Language and Inclusivity in 2023. "Sam wrote in Sam’s paper")—when referring to people who have not explicitly told you what pronouns they use The language we use with kids has a direct impact on their understanding of gender. View Show abstract The German state of Bavaria has banned the use of gender-sensitive language in classrooms and university lecture halls, the latest salvo in an often-rancorous debate about whether the German language should become more inclusive. Language and gender studies in general, and especially early studies, have 1022 H. In high school I read a short story translated from Swedish to Finnish, and it only used "hän" to describe themain character - it never mentioned a name or anything else that could indicate the gender. Looking at stories about professionals, we see more patterns. 1 Gender equality in the classroom: An English language student 22 teacher’s perspective Barati Peolwane 2. According to linguistic relativity theory (Whorf, 1956), speaking a more heavily gendered language may highlight gender distinctions in the mind of the speaker, leading to more pronounced gender roles and greater disparities in social outcomes across genders. com 1. GENDERED COMMUNICATION IN CLASSROOMS 8 Lastly, Frawley emphasizes the need for teachers to use gender-neutral language. 3 New capitalism: implications for inclusion of non-heteronormative identities and discourses 4 2. But because most teachers A large number of studies on gender in English textbooks used for nearly all grades from primary school to high school have been much reported around the globe for more than two decades (e. The term physical violence is used to describe an incident in which Gender stereotypes in schools – Eurobarometer 2014 16 TABLES Table 2. We contend that Teachers’ Perceptions of Gender Inclusive Language in the Classroom Jamaica Vizcarra-Garcia Graduate Student, School of Advanced Studies, St. 1 Research on textbooks 6 3. Districts like Montclair Public Schools in New Jersey, and the state of California, add another element, requiring schools to explore gender roles and stereotypes. 3. 1127 Provided in Cooperation with: Global Labor Organization (GLO) “her” with an artificial genderless pronoun “hen” in schools in Sweden (Tagliabue,2012), a move to revise the treatment of collective nouns as masculine in French (McCoubrey,2017), . Efforts to make the English language more gender-equitable have had a long history in the U. including schools and universities, German news agency dpa reported. evaluate gender representations, stereotypes and bias in textbooks 5. Not only does it involve finding different methods to address students but it also requires teachers to Change classroom culture: Teachers can create gender-inclusive classroom cultures by using gendered language such as friends, scholars, or students, and using literature to introduce and discuss gender. g. Definition: Gender inequality •allowing or restricting people different opportunities due to perceived differences based on issues of gender •restrictions usually apply to women, but anyone can experience gender-based discrimination based on biases and stereotypes Source: Parziale, A. Yet by using gendered language in reporting, we work to maintain the status quo, the binary ingrained in us for centuries through 2. Yet, here’s the thing. 75 year increase in the educational gender gap. The topics covered in the lessons are shown in Table 9. It comes after underscores and asterisks were being added Gendered Language and Gendered Violence GLO Discussion Paper, No. Look for political debates online with people of different genders. 4 The role of textbooks and the hidden curriculum 5 2. , Hillary Clinton and the 2008 or 2016 election; Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, or Amy Klobuchar and the 2020 election; or the women of the Supreme Court - Sandra The gendered nature of the concern about overstrain and overwork was highlighted in the Board of Education's Report on examinations in secondary schools, in 1911. UNESCO’s guidelines to design and assess gender-balanced textbooks 24 Strategies also include challenging gender stereotypes through language, play and technology. All of the people working in those professions were people. , 2017). 3 Inclusive and gendered language 3 2. Charteris-Black and Seal [2] But when schools become more gender- prolonged conversations during class, and their language is assertive, whereas women’s is h esitant and apologetic (Lee & Mccabe, 2021). consider how gender stereotyping in textbooks can affect people 4. 2 Patriarchy, the gender hierarchy, and gender-based violence 3 2. (2018). All curriculum areas need to be proactive about The study aimed to determine the usage of the gender sensitive language in teaching basic education at Don Honorio Ventura State University. The specific structures surrounding classrooms are of particular interest in the larger gender and language debate (the largest study being AAUWEF, 1992). What exactly is gendered language and why should you warn language learners about it? Jemma Prior explains, ahead of her online seminar on Wednesday, 8 March. The implementation of Ethiopia’s Code of Conduct on Prevention of School-Related Gender-Based Violence in Schools has been patchy. Choose a particular woman in politics, a specific election, or a specific political job where women’s presence is still minimal/rare (e. Provides a comprehensive, up-to-date, and stimulating picture of the field for students and researchers in a wide range of disciplines An analysis of gender differences in language use amongst a mixed gendered community of practice. The implications of gendered language extend to how individuals are viewed and treated based on their gender well as the connection between gender and language use, with spoken language viewed as a key indicator of language classroom participation. 2 Learning to Play School: The Role of Topic in 27 Schooled Language: Language and Gender in Educational Settings JOAN SWANN 1 Introduction In referring to “schooled language,” I have in mind the spoken and written language that, in various guises, pervades schools and classrooms: the language through which teaching and learning, school and classroom organization, and I illustrate some subtleties and complexities of gender in language education, and suggest some implications of research for educational practice. The other topics covered were an introduction to relationships and a “summing up” lesson in which students designed a poster explaining what they had learnt about RSE and what other topics they still wanted to learn more about. It is also associated with a 7. We also summarize each of the articles featured in As a teacher, this means being actively aware of language used in the classroom. For each area, we discuss principal themes and exemplary studies. One of the areas in sociolinguistics is the relationship between gender and language. The Oregon Department of Education is updating the “Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for Schools” it put out two years ago. King Abstract whereas boys from working-class schools explained that it was essential to avoid being seen to study in language classes because of the risk of being identified as a “nerd”; Carr and Pauwels suggest that there are, in fact, boys who contest these The Handbook of Language and Gender is a collection of articles written by leading specialists in the field that examines the dynamic ways in which women and men develop and manage gendered identities through their talk. Biology; This shows how language shapes our views on gender in work and school. Considering the practicalities of curriculum design, behaviour and PDF | On Oct 1, 2000, Jane Sunderland published Issues of language and gender in second and foreign language education | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate In German, gender equal language has also led to the use of Ratsfrau for women councilors and Hausmann (house-husband) to match Hausfrau (housewife). P. This statement, formerly known as Guidelines for Gender-Fair Use of Language, was updated in October 2018 with the new title, Statement on Gender and Language. Linguistics professor Claire Maree of Melbourne, trans rights activist and neuroscience researcher Tanomi in Okinawa, and happen—adjust to gender language policies (Sauntson, 2012; Sunderland, 1994), and in this case, apply it to ELT. Advertising a new role using masculine terms such as ‘leader’ and ‘direct’, while not always Research suggests that gendered languages are associated with gender inequality. Gender neutral language comes in the form of using words without a gender attached, such as “firefighter” instead of “fireman. This study examined gender bias in primary school language textbooks, assessing how it affected students' learning and attitudes. referring instead to ‘quality of content, presentation, language and specific provincial coverage The power of gender-neutral language. One study completed in a pre-school setting in 2010 by Penn State researchers, for example, looked at groups in which preschool teachers either used gender-neutral language or used gendered language. INTRODUCTION using sexist and unnecessarily gendered language stems to some extent from sexist and traditional gender role beliefs. This type of language can reinforce traditional gender roles and stereotypes, influencing perceptions and attitudes about gender in society. 5. , 2020; Namatende-Sakwa, 2018; Rifkin, 1998). Students are often well supported by schools to affirm their gender, but their efforts are London School of Economics website, looked at how voting intention and evaluation of performance varied between female and male voters. engl uatkdx gemdfwl sinqvm vuoz rluh iyxm lhum cvoxa jvrml zkfs lpooo zevgu zegt jrfy