Gender Representations in Local Media : Exploring The Impact of a CML Unit on Adult EFL Learners

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Media have traditionally misrepresented women and men, playing a relevant role in people’s gender representations. This case study aimed to explore the impact a unit on Critical Media Literacy may have on adult language learners when analyzing gender representations in Colombian media. With this in mind, several instruments were used to collect data: a researcher journal, class recordings, work samples, and a group interview. The results of this study suggest that the impact CML lessons have on adult language learners is manifold. First of all, adult learners struggled to mitigate self-biased representations of gender. Second, the participants were able to move from description to analysis of media artifacts with the help of a CML approach. Third, this project impacted students both at the classroom level and outside this. Finally, it was found that the use of CML fostered language development in the EFL classroom. Results from this study may have implications for language programs, teachers and researchers. First of all, language programs and teachers should move beyond teaching the target language and take advantage of the English classes to foster students’ awareness, reflections and analysis of crucial dimensions such as gender and its representations in the media; the target language should be used as a means to their analysis. Secondly, when involving critical media literacy in the language class, lessons must be well planned so that scaffolding processes occur. Thirdly, adult language learners need to be provided with tools to analyze media messages. Finally, this study implies that language teachers and programs start making a critical media approach part of their agendas because we are invaded by mainstream messages, full of gender stereotypes and ideologies that students rarely decode. Using CML approaches to the analysis of gender representations in the media will enrich the conversation to understand the importance of discussing, reflecting, and acting towards, stereotypes and misrepresentations which lead to inequity and violence.