Exploring Indonesian EFL Students' Perception on Gender Equality Awareness Through Water Folklore as Learning Materials

Abstract

Although the previous research pointed to the examination of EFL textbooks as regards their equal gender representation, it did not explain how EFL students perceive them. In order to fill that information gap, this study attempted to obtain senior high school students' level of gender awareness through water folklore storybooks as the EFL learning materials where gender equality is portrayed using narratives. The participants were six students of a reputable private school across different achievement levels and genders. This study used focus group interviews to investigate EFL students' awareness of gender equality from a folklore storybook. Interview data was compiled to reveal two dimensions of gender equality awareness: definition of genders and roles of genders in society. Results found that students' level awareness of gender equality was affected from their sources of learning. This research emphasizes the influence of selecting instructional resources containing gender-equal to take an egalitarian viewpoint..