An analysis of studies on gender sensitivity in Serbian language textbooks

• Main Author: Stakić Mirjana M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pedagoško društvo Srbije i Institut za pedagogiju i andragogiju Filozofskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu 2017-01-01
• Series: Nastava i Vaspitanje
• Subjects: gender sensitivity; Serbian language textbooks; literary text; aesthetic value
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0547-3330/2017/0547-33301703483S.pdf
• ISSN: 0547-3330; 2560-3051

This paper presents an analysis of studies of gender sensitivity in Serbian language textbooks in a diachronic perspective. The analysis aimed to establish whether these studies had taken into account the textbooks' specific character, namely, the fact that in addition to a didactic methodological apparatus, language textbooks also incorporate literary texts with educational, edifying and aesthetic value. The analysis has shown that literary texts in Serbian language textbooks can be assessed as gender-(in)sensitive due to (1) the predominance of male authors (2) the predominance of male characters (3) the stereotypical manner in which male and female characters' psycho-social traits are presented, and (4) the predominant traditional depiction of the value system and the professional and family roles performed by characters within a work of fiction. A criticism that can be levelled at these studies of gender sensitivity of Serbian language textbooks in a diachronic perspective is that they do not take into account the aesthetic value of literary texts. We therefore believe that future studies should make a distinction between the gender sensitivity of language textbooks' didactic-methodological apparatus and the literary texts themselves, as aesthetic value is the main criterion for the study (reading and interpretation) of literary works in the teaching process.