Introduction

We are so used to the male gender to be placed highlighted in everything

that we dont even noticed the discrepancy in the media, textbooks and
even the use of language between how female gender is treated. The use of
language that favors the male gender gives to the fact that men helped to
sort and put the rules of the Language. Women back then could not study
and defend the impartiality of genres in grammars standards. A good
example is the commotion was about the correct way to classify the
adjective "presidenta" or "presidente" when Rousseff assumed the
presidency of Brazil. As she was the first woman to hold that position, we did
not know immediately the correct form of the word. These points to a lack of
adaptation to new positions, direct duties assumed by women over the
years. It seems that women's rights have evolved, grammatical rules have
not.
This study points to more assertively, based on a textbook to give a sample
of how the education system continues to perpetuate patriarchy system
without sometimes being aware of it.
Methodology
The research was based on models of the texts, The Gender analysis of the
ESL textbook Side by Side (Kemp, 2011) and An Investigation of the
Manifestation of Sexism in EFL / ESL Textbooks (Ghorbani, 2009) and was
used as an object research the textbook Video English - Regular course
-Program 4 of the language course CCAA.
Following the criteria:

Female and male characters;

Occupations;
Adjective association;

Content analysis
From 274 characters presented in the book, 119 are female, which is
equivalent to 43% of the total. The number is not so discrepant, but we can
already notice that the prevailing preference for male characters.
The analysis was made both in illustrations as in sentences in which appear
names of people or kinship.

Male/ Female Representation

Female

Male

Characters

119
Total:

155
274

2. Occupations
The analyses was separated in skilled and unskilled occupations, which
shows that a much larger number of occupations is attributed to men and
mostly in occupations that require study and prestige as doctors and
businessmen. The few female occupations are secretary and attendant.

Occupation
Female
Skilled
Unskilled
Skilled
actress
1 attendant
1 Diretor
secretary 1 salesperson
1 Doctor
athlete
1
Businessman
Actor
police officer
Cook
Manager

Male
2
2
5
1
2
1
1

Unskilled
assistant
doorman
farmer
handyman
attendant
pizza delivery

1
1
1
4
3
1

It was found in the book 13 indications that the character is a housewife and
mother without definition of occupation within each context. This type of
sample, indicates the ingrained thought that women are only useful for
minor occupations that do not require special skills. It's as if women were
not able to take on greater responsibilities that being a housewife.

(Picture 1, page
27)

Also was counted the domestic roles mentioned in the books. The difference
between the number of wives (14) and mothers (13) shows that the
distribution of roles is much less diverse than the male roles. It gives the
idea of the overall role of women in society.

Domestic roles
Female
Male
1
wife
4 husband
dauther
1 boyfriend
1
mother
3 father
girlfriend 2 fianc
aunt
1 brother
son
grandfather

1
4
3
6
1
1
7
1

3. Adjectives used for female and male;

Below the evaluation of adjectives separated into positive and negative.
Note that the frequency of the adjectives in general, including the negatives

are assigned to more men than women. Most feminine adjectives are related
to outer beauty, objectifying women.

Adjective association
Female
Positive
Negative
thin
1 bad
pretty
2 crazy
young
2 old
attractiv
e
1 embarrassed
absentstrong
1 minded
intelligen
t
1 ugly
nice
1
tall
1
honey
elegant

1
1

Male
Positive
Negative
1 perfect
1 idiot
1 sincere
1 crazy
1 fantastic 1 old

1
2
2

1 thin

2 strange

1 nice

1 suspicious

1 good
best
strong
handsom
e
intelligent
millionair
e

3 ugly
1
2 terrible-looking 1
1 fat
2
2 bad
1 worst

3
3

2 weak

Women were also placed as stupid and incapable. Some illustrations have
the connotation that woman is self-serving and only think about material
things.

(Picture 1, pg
40)

Conclusion
This sample shows a little bit of what kind of content is in the textbooks. We
have to think about the information we transmit to children and how it
absorbs this information.
This is harmful for both, the boy begins to feel superior, and for the girl who
needs to suppress herself to fit into society.
The suggestion is a review every two years of textbooks for all kinds of
people, different genders and different ethnic groups so there is a balance in
the information given to the student. Make him feel included, no matter
what sex it is.
Student: Aline Morelli