A Review of Studies on Gender Representation in English Textbooks in the 21st Century: Insights from Literature Indexed in Google Scholar

Abstract

This paper systematically reviews studies on gender representation in English Textbooks indexed in Google Scholar. Employing the systematic literature review method, it particularly examines how the female and male genders have been represented in English textbooks since the beginning of the 21^st century. Findings revealed recurring patterns in gender representation in English textbooks, including: (1) males outnumbered females; (2) males are more powerful than females; (3) males are overrepresented linguistically, visually, and socially; (4) low female visibility; (5) females are less represented through language use, and (6) bias in gender representation. Moreover, results also showed that the dominance of males and male characters had persisted in textbooks used by diverse learners from the beginning of the 21^st century up to 2024. In addition, despite some awareness of neutrality to avoid biases, some textbooks were still written and developed with minimal consideration of gender representation that can shape how learners perceive the roles of males and females in society. Addressing these biases requires a more balanced representation of both females and males in textbooks. With this in mind and recognizing that the evaluation of instructional materials (textbooks) must take gender balance into account, this review offers valuable insights for material designers, authors, teachers, and students.