Gender, Sexuality, and Language Teaching Materials: Why Materials Matter for Social Justice in the Language Classroom

Abstract

Even though much has been said and written about commercial materials, our understanding is very limited when it comes to locally-produced (in-house, non-commercial) materials that are often used to replace or supplement existing published materials. In this piece, we share a review of literature on how gender and sexualities are represented in commercial coursebooks and our reflections on locally-produced instructional materials used in an Intensive English Program in an English Medium Instruction (EMI) university in Turkey. We underscore the vitality of materials in giving teachers agency in establishing in safe and inclusive classroom spaces, and countering systematic oppressions, discrimination and injustices in and beyond the classroom.