Revealing Gender Inequality and Cisheteropatriarchy in Japan’s New Civics and Society Textbooks
A Feminist Discourse Analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19222196 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Heqiao Wang (0000-0003-0804-5070, Okayama University, corresponding author), Shawna M Carroll (0000-0001-5226-142X, Okayama University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-25 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Japanese Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1037-1397 • E-ISSN: 1469-9338 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10371397.2026.2657342 |
| OpenAlex | W7155375853 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
This paper conducts a feminist discourse analysis of Japan’s revised ‘Civics and Society’ textbooks in use from the 2022 academic year, revealing persistent gender inequality and cisheteropatriarchy. Through the analysis of the language, illustrations, and photographs used in five of the new textbooks (almost 70% of the textbooks used across Japan), a feminist framework contributes to the argument that textbooks serve not only as education tools, but as reflections of specific ideologies and power dynamics through hidden curriculum. Although the new course and textbooks aim to promote civic participation and critical thinking with specific messaging around gender equality and anti-discrimination, findings reveal the textbooks mirror and perpetuate normative, dominant gender roles and biases. While the textbooks contain messages advocating gender equality, often through legal discourse, they persist in reinforcing cisheteronormativity, patriarchy, and a perception of a static gender binary, perpetuating particular hierarchies of gender and sexuality within education and consequently within society. These findings highlight the importance of critically examining education materials to uncover hidden curriculum that reinforces sexism and cisheteropatriarchy, ultimately contributing to a more equitable framework for citizenship education in Japan.
Civics · Critical discourse analysis · Discourse analysis · Gender equality · Gender inequality · Inequality · Gender Studies in Language · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Japanese History and Culture
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| Highly cited | No |
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