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Gender stereotyped images of occupations in Malaysian Primary English textbooks: a social semiotic approach
Chairozila Mohd. Shamsuddin1, Yuen, Chee Keong2, Bahiyah Abdul Hamid3.
A number of researchers in the past have highlighted on portrayals of stereotyped gender roles in
textbooks, but little has fully explored on how social semiotic meanings are used for identifying
occupational gender roles. Social semiotics places an importance in this current research of
images on textbooks due to how it visualises the existing society. The main objective of this
study is to uncover images of gender-stereotyped occupations from primary school English
textbooks and uncover gendered attributes from these images. Images in the textbooks are
investigated based on how images with agentic and communal qualities reveal representational,
interpersonal and compositional meaning. This activity of collecting images involved framing
the gender with visual elements through connecting or disconnecting them to the illustrations.
This study found 126 images represented in professional occupations and 81 images represented
in non-professional occupations. Results showed that occupational images of males were linked
to more self-assertive and agentic qualities while females were portrayed with more caring,
communal qualities. Social semiotic analysis revealed that more males were shown as
professionals such as architects, and doctors, whereas females were more portrayed with
professional occupations such as nurses and teachers. Non-professional males were also included
with agentic qualities, portrayed by farmers and firefighters. The implication of the study adopts
a gender perspective to semiotic theory through tying meaning with gendered images,
culminating semiotic and gender inclusivity in educational materials.
Affiliation:
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
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Immediacy Index
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