Mandarin for Whom? A Critical Review of Representation in Integrated Chinese

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 4:15pm
  In Poster Session: Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender Poster Session

Abstract

This study critically examines the representations of race, gender, and class in Integrated Chinese (Liu et al., 2017), a widely used Chinese language textbook in the United States. Using critical content analysis of both textual and visual content, the study identifies recurring stereotypes, particularly in portrayals of gender roles, racial identities, and socioeconomic status. The findings reveal that male and female characters are frequently shown in traditional occupational roles, characters are exclusively portrayed as Asian or White, queer identities are entirely absent, and romantic interactions consistently assume heterosexuality. This study explores how such representations may shape learners’ perceptions of Chinese culture and their understanding of race, gender, and class in the context of language education.

Author

• Yuzi Gao, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill