Analysis of Heteronormativity and Gender Roles in EFL Textbooks

This paper examines the current representations of gender roles and heteronormativity in a corpus of textbooks used to teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Spanish high schools. Several studies have documented the importance of recognizing problems of homophobic harassment and gender bias which may result in a significant number of students feeling excluded. It is notable that textbook publishers have failed to address this issue despite its relevance to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), raising the question of why this continues to go unnoticed by textbook publishers. The corpus selected comprises two sets of textbooks printed by leading publishers in the area of EFL. In order to gain insight into this issue, we have conducted a qualitative study analyzing the role of textbooks in perpetuating heteronormativity and stereotyped gender roles by exemplifying the naturalized heterosexual and male/female identities. Data were coded under two broad variables: heteronormativity and gender, which in turn were broken down into different units of analysis. The results suggested that heteronormativity still permeates the whole curriculum and that attempts to gender-balance need to be improved by reducing the number of male protagonists. Textbooks fell into some of the same clichés with regard to gender-related stereotypes, such as almost exclusively linking women with shopping and fashion. It is evidently clear from the findings that textbooks should be revised to ensure the right to quality education for all and to make students aware of SDGs, since 7 out of 17 are related to the target topics.

Gloria Velásquez’s Roosevelt High School series: towards quality multicultural literature through rainbow coalitions

The goal of this paper is to study several YA novels by Chicana writer Gloria Velásquez, the Roosevelt High School series (1994-2018), as an educating tool within the framework of multicultural education. The analysis takes into account Velásquez’s choice of problematic situations (related to racism, sexism, or homophobic harassment, among others) and the solutions her novels propose, which include both individual responses and community-organized measures. Special attention is given to the criticism according to which Velásquez’s Latinx and multi-ethnic characters are steeped in stereotypes, which would cancel the books’ potential capacity to inspire social change. In contrast with this negative vision, this paper proves that Velásquez’s series offers empowering role models for teen Latinxs of various ethnic backgrounds and effectively calls for the neutralization of race, class and gender stereotypes, thus contributing to the implementation of Jesse Jackson’s 1984 proposal that ethnic minorities should form a “rainbow coalition”.

Understanding and Reducing Homophobic Harassment and Victimization in Schools

Bias-based harassment, or harassment based on one’s actual or perceived social identity, such as sexual orientation, remains a prominent concern in many schools. Homophobic harassment is one form of bias-based harassment evident in schools. Not only is homophobic harassment common compared to non–bias-based victimization, it also carries distinct and elevated consequences for those who experience it. Given the seriousness of homophobic harassment and the consequences of experiencing it, this chapter addresses three key issues. First, it provides a review of individual and contextual factors that underlie homophobic behavior and its perpetuation over time. Second, the chapter describes the various processes by which homophobic victimization predicts health and academic concerns for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and heterosexual youth. Finally, the chapter covers several factors that may promote resilience among youth who experience this form of victimization. Each section notes implications for research, practice, and policy.