Title: Gender representation in the Malaysian Year Six (UPSR) English Language examination papers for Chinese national-type primary schools

Authors: Kar-Weng Chan; Norasiah Ismail

Addresses: School of Education, Languages and Communications, Wawasan Open University, Penang 10050, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), PJ 46661, Malaysia ' School of Education, Languages and Communications, Wawasan Open University, Penang 10050, Malaysia

Abstract: Gender bias is somewhat reflected in linguistic expressions and pictorial depictions. By examining these items, the status of a gender can be determined. Many sexist phenomena have displayed that women are always the victims of prejudice. To identify such sexist phenomena in the assessment context, textual and pictorial representations contained in the 2007-2013 Malaysian Year Six (or Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah, UPSR) English Language examination papers designed for the Chinese national-type primary schools were cumulatively content analysed. The results of the non-parametric binomial test reported fair representation for two aspects, namely visibility and occupation with a p-value > .05. By using the same test coupled with the chi-square test, other aspects such as firstness, activeness and private sphere were proved sexist against women with a p-value < .05. In addition, the content analysis also qualitatively revealed that females tended to be depicted as being weak, focusing on shopping and trivial items. Males on the other hand were pictured to be helpful persons despite being portrayed as weak and bad persons in some instances.

Keywords: Malaysia; Year Six; UPSR; English language exams; examination papers; sexism; gender representation; primary schools; primary education; gender bias; content analysis; females; women.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2016.076050

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2016 Vol.1 No.3, pp.219 - 235

Received: 30 Jul 2015
Accepted: 02 Dec 2015
Published online: 22 Apr 2016 *

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