Language Curricula and Gender
Achieving diversity and gender equity is a vexing problem, long thought to be only possible through global educational outreach. We research how the language curriculum reinforces, exacerbates, or disrupts cultural assumptions and stereotypes about gender and to develop resources that will enable language instructors to think critically and teach dynamically about the ongoing social phenomenon of language, social justice, and gender equity. Read our Buffett Brief
Research Group
Our research group, faculty experts from a variety of fields and languages, is invested in language and language teaching and learning. The group is currently engaged in research investigating the role of the curriculum, classroom context, and pedagogy in furthering diversity and gender equity. You can meet the research group here: Rana Raddawi and Marcelo Worsley, the group’s lead, and the current members.
Upcoming Event
Please join us to welcome Dr. Jessica Wade to our Campus. The event is for faculty and students alike and will include Dr. Jessica Wade’s talk, a short interactive segment on using Wikipedia, a presentation of suggestions on how to work with Wikipedia biographies in the language classroom, and a reception. Dr. Wade has written more than 2100 biographical entries in Wikipedia on women scientists to highlight their contributions to science.
May 7, 2024
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Kresge 1515
See our other scheduled events.
Research Projects
We have short- and long-term goals to help impact education. A critical approach to the curriculum in general, and to language instruction and methods of teaching in particular, allows us to reflect on the instructor’s role and on the material we currently use. We will produce and share new pedagogical material and develop teaching approaches to better integrate gender into the language curriculum. We want to set examples for all instructors to use authentic materials (visual, auditory, or written) that truly engage and teach to all genders.
Terms and Definitions
This section lists new terms and expressions important to our work and provides definitions and explanations. For example, have you ever thought about the terms equity and equality? Even though they sound similar, the implementation of one versus the other will affect marginalized people quite differently.