Linguistic sexism and gender role stereotyping in Malaysian English Language textbooks

摘要

Sexist language and gender stereotyping do not only disparage, but can also lower theuddignity of one group of people, usually women/girls. If left unchecked, these negativeudnorms of behavior and attitude could be institutionalized and gradually become part ofudour social and cultural code. Recent research findings indicate a strong presence ofudgender bias and linguistic sexism in the language and content of educational materialsudsuch as textbooks and practice books. This paper addresses linguistic sexism and genderudrole stereotyping in Malaysian English language school textbooks. Specifically, it looksudat: If sexism is inculcated very early in life, how is it inculcated and what is inculcated?udAre our school textbooks indirectly and unconsciously functioning as a conduit for theudindoctrination and enforcement of sexism and sex role conformity among youngudMalaysians? This paper presents the preliminary findings of an on-going research studyudthat documents the extent of gender bias and linguistic sexism in selected Malaysianudprimary and secondary school English language textbooks.