The Visual Representation of Gender Roles in Primary School Textbooks in Indonesia

Abstract

This article focuses on the extent to which visual representations of both males and females in widely used primary school textbooks reinforce gender stereotypes. The research applies a multimodal approach based on visual social semiotics (Kress & van Leeuwen 2006). The research aims to critically examine social semiotic sources, reveal ideas and values, and how in-group and out-group are represented in textbook discourse. The results show that in textbooks used in primary school males are more likely to be portrayed as 'active' and having a high-status 'position', while females are more likely to be portrayed in lower situations. Women are more likely to be portrayed in ways that reproduce gender stereotypes such as doing household chores or providing care. In contrast, men are more likely to be portrayed as agents, competent and powerful, and have various professional roles such as scientists, police officers etc. These patterns reflect a social structure where Indonesian men have a privileged position of power and authority such as in the field of science. This finding has important implications for ensuring a balance between men and women both pictorially and numerically.



Author Information
Yasir Mubarok, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Indonesia

Paper Information
Conference: KCAH2024
Stream: Language

This paper is part of the KCAH2024 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Mubarok Y. (2025) The Visual Representation of Gender Roles in Primary School Textbooks in Indonesia ISSN: 2759-7571 – The Korean Conference on Arts & Humanities 2024 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 71-80) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2759-7571.2024.7
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2759-7571.2024.7


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon