Next Meeting


Time: 6:00pm
Date: Friday, 28 May 2010
Venue: Room AG434, English Department, HK Polytechnic University

How is Gender Represented?

A Comparison of Australian and Hong Kong English Language Textbooks

Dr Jackie F.K. Lee

The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Abstract

While in Australia a growing public awareness of gender issues occurred in the early 1980s through discussion prompted by participants in the women’s movement, it was not until about a decade later that a comparable development occurred in Hong Kong, for example with the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance of 1995 and the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission in 1996. In this paper I will consider whether differences in the period of time marked by community awareness of gender issues in Australia and Hong Kong are reflected in differential patterns of gender representation in educational materials. A comparison of ten Australian books with ten Hong Kong books revealed that such awareness has impacted most on the use of gender-inclusive terms and symmetrical phrases in both places. The Australian writers tended to use generic they while their Hong Kong counterparts preferred either the coordination he or she or ‘generic’ he. Both sets of writers maintained the convention of male-first presentation, depicted women in a more limited range of social roles, and presented stereotyped images of women as weaker and more passive than men, and as operating primarily within domestic domains. The visual representation also reinforced traditionally gendered roles. Hong Kong textbook writers, nevertheless, paid more heed to the inclusion of females visually. Controversy persists over whether textbook writers should reflect reality or whether they should lead social change and strive for gender equality.

Brief Bio:

Jackie F.K. Lee obtained her PhD in Linguistics at the University of New South Wales, Australia. She has been working in the Department of English at the Hong Kong Institute of Education since 2002, and is now an Associate Professor in the Department. She has been teaching mainly grammar courses to pre-service and in-service student teachers. Her research interests include grammar teaching and learning, language and gender, learning studies and study abroad. Some research findings have been disseminated in highly-ranked international journals, including World Englishes, Language Teaching Research, Teaching and Teacher Education, Sex Roles, and Gender and Education.

Refreshments Served. All are Welcome.

Following the seminar, you are invited to a self-paying dinner with the speaker. Thank you.