The Current Conjuncture

The Case for Educated Hope and Pedagogic Humility

Bibliographic Data

ID12898201
AuthorsJohn Gray (0000-0003-3373-9453, University College London, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume19
Issue3
Pages367-383
Publication date2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueGender and Language (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1747-6321 • E-ISSN: 1747-633X
PublisherEquinox Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.3138/gl-2025-0929
OpenAlexW7116132738
LanguageEN
References cited24

This article discusses the contributions to this special issue within the context of the current turn to right-wing authoritarianism across much of the world and the dangers this presupposes for addressing gender and sexual diversity in second language education. The article focuses on four main topics arising from the globally diverse contributions appearing in the issue: (a) the current robustness and methodological sophistication of the field of language teaching materials analysis; (b) the way in which, despite decades of scholarly critique, the representation of gender and sexual diversity remains problematic for educational publishers and materials writers; (c) the pitfalls of limited “progress” in textbook representational repertoires, specifically the incursions of the discourse of neoliberal feminism; and (d) the extent of work still to be done in terms of the treatment of gender and sexual diversity in actual classrooms and the role that materials might play. The article concludes with a short discussion of the concept of “educated hope” as essential in the present moment for those who are committed to progressive education while also bearing in mind the need for what might be called “pedagogic humility”; namely, a strategically deferred acceptance of limitation, an understanding of context, and a concern for safety

Authoritarianism · Conceptualization · Context (archaeology · Diversity (politics · Humility · Sophistication · Critical and Liberation Pedagogy · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Gender Studies in Language

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