Cultural Categories and Gender Representation in "English Starter" by Bachtiar Bima M. And Friends

Abstract

This research examines the cultural categories and gender representation in the English textbook "English Starter" for seventh-grade junior high school students. The study uses Chao's cultural type theory (2011) and Susanto's gender theory (2021). The results show that 61% of the pictures are Universality across Culture, 28% Source Culture, 4% International Culture, 7% intercultural Interaction, and 0% Target Culture. In terms of gender representation, male gender names are represented 49% and female 51%, while female gender is represented 51% and female 52% in address terms, identity markers, adjectives, and nouns. This uneven presentation of cultural categories highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to curriculum development. The book also demonstrates gender equality, with female gender being more dominant than male, avoiding bias and boosting women's confidence.