Exploring Gender Stereotyping in Online Learning Platforms: An Empirical Study of Indonesian Pedagogical Discourse

Abstract

Gender stereotyping in online learning platforms can influence how the users, especially students with specific gender roles as the label of a specific sex, are perceived. Various evidence from studies analyzing language materials have shown the significance of how gender stereotyping is represented; however, there has been relatively little empirical research specifically exploring how gender is depicted in online learning language materials. This study aims to investigate the extent of gender stereotyping represented in the learning materials of one online platform used nationally in Indonesia, using the feminist stylistic approach of Sara Mills. This study analyzes the learning materials specific to elementary school level for fourth until sixth grade and junior high school for seventh until ninth grade. This study finds that specific materials for specific grades significantly represent stereotypes through the language used in the written text. This suggests that designers and developers of online learning materials need to be aware of gender stereotyping when designing such materials for students.