Gender Identity

The present research was an attempt to investigate gender portrayal represented in EFL reading textbooks. Using Johnson and Young’s (2002) verb taxonomy , the reading passages of the four books of the Active Skills for Reading series were selected as the corpus. Qualitative content analysis was employed to identify the type and frequency of verb categories including, action , competition/destruction , agency/control , limited, state, feeling and nurturing , and negative verbs. Based on the results of statistical analysis, no significant difference was demonstrated in frequencies of verb types assigned to each gender other than in Action and Limited verb elements which were biased toward males. Moreover, it was revealed that males were assigned to some social roles which were traditionally attributed to female characters. In addition, the findings revealed that there was no significant difference between doer vs. receiver roles allocated to male and female characters. The results of the study can shed more light on micro and macro policymaking in the area of education, language teaching, curriculum development, and materials preparation for EFL courses.

Background: A key claim and fundamental assumption of feminist thought is that many traits commonly perceived as female are not inherent or genetically determined, but are instead products of historical and social conditioning. This perspective argues that even in contemporary societies, persistent anti-female stereotypes limit women’s ability to fully exercise their rights. For instance, the historical exclusion of women from political life, potentially driven by male power dynamics, has fostered the misconception that women lack interest in political engagement.Aims: This research seeks to investigate this hypothesis: does Internet-based social networks help to increase women's political participation?Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study synthesizes data from diverse sources– including case study of Clubhouse, and peer-reviewed academic literature– to explore to what extent are women interested in political action under free and equal conditions? To this end, we selected the Clubhouse platform. We then monitored and analyzed women’s behavior before and after a sensitive national political event, the 2021 (1400 AH) presidential election.Findings: The findings indicated that, contrary to our initial hypothesis, the Clubhouse platform’s open environment did not significantly enhance women’s political participation or stimulate greater interest in political topics. Women largely remained engaged with content related to entertainment, family life, cooking, and music.Conclusions: This viewpoint aligns with the tendency to view gender-related issues as stemming from inherent, natural differences rather than socio-historical constructs.

This paper explores how Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent reclaims the female voice as a form of resistance against patriarchal oppression. By reimagining the biblical story of Dinah, Diamant shifts the focus to women’s experiences, highlighting their strength, solidarity, and resilience in a male-dominated world. The novel challenges traditional gender roles and religious narratives, offering a feminist perspective on biblical women. Using Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. Additionally, this paper explores how storytelling functions as a tool of empowerment within the novel, allowing women to reclaim their histories and reshape their identities. By centering female narratives that have been historically overlooked or silenced, The Red Tent not only reinterprets biblical traditions but also fosters a dialogue on the significance of women’s collective memory and oral traditions. Furthermore, the analysis considers how the novel’s depiction of sisterhood and shared rituals subverts patriarchal structures, illustrating the power of female agency in redefining cultural and religious legacies. The paper examines how women in the novel navigate societal expectations while asserting their identities. Through themes of midwifery, female bonding, and religious conflict, The Red Tent creates a space where women’s voices and stories are celebrated, challenging the marginalization of women in both historical and religious contexts.