Representation of (In)equality in English for Today (Class- VIII)

Abstract

A textbook has inevitable importance in students’ academic life. A textbook not only contains respective lessons, activities or tasks but also contains ideology and thoughts of a country through its language, content or discourse. Therefore, during designing or developing a textbook it requires a balance in the content and the context and needs to represent the equality in terms of gender, class, religion and profession. There is inequality, biases, stereotypicalization, underrepresentation or misrepresentation of social classes, ages, races, religions, gender and professions in ELT books of different contexts. This research reveals the unequal representation of social classes, professions and religions in English for Today of class VIII. It sustains inequality in terms of representing social classes. The content of EFT is controlled by upper and middle classes approaches. It noticeably excludes lower classes from the content. EFT book provides discriminatory depiction as well. In terms of representing professions white-collar jobs get priority in EFT. It gives conventional representations of professions. There is less representation of blue-collar jobs holders who work manually. Through the professional representations of women and men, EFT encourages gender role conformity. It shows that women have become independent by contemplating their fixed gender role. In terms of professions, EFT of class VIII practices gender discrimination also. English for Today of class VIII directly supports communalism rather than secularism. EFT has ignored other religions including the Hindus, the Buddhas and the Christians. Therefore, the Muslims are represented as protagonist of the texts or lessons in EFT. There is a little bit representation of the Hindu religion. It can be said that through the unequal representation of social classes, professions and religions, EFT reconfirms the societal hegemony in its content. People cannot deny the fact that our society is being ruled by the intellectuals, dominant classes and the majority. By using qualitative content analysis approach this study has done an in-depth investigation of the representation of social classes, professions and religions in English for Today of class VIII. The researcher used Fairclough’s (1995) three dimensional models to critically analyze the contexts and images of EFT. Through three levels of critical analysis- description, interpretation and explanation; the researcher reveals the unequal representation of social classes, professions and religions of EFT.