The article by Taylor focused on the images in textbooks that ESL/EFL students would perceive as the norms of society in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity. The study was researched through 15 participants that were English Language Learners from Brazil. The conclusions from this study as to “What does an American look like?” resulted in “white, wealthy, powerful, isolated with members of their own race and free of problems” (8). These results had to do with the images that were portrayed in the textbooks of diverse races. There are many that think that “students of ESL may find it difficult or impossible to challenge the hidden meaning in the materials provided to them” (34). Due to Taylor’s experiences from her research she believed otherwise. One of the participants observed and criticized a picture and stated that “This picture where there is a man and a woman, a couple ... probably they have a lot of money or a good position because it's a kind of picture that only who has money want to have, okay the man standing behind the woman an9 using a suit and tie. And I don't like this kind of picture, really. Probably one day if I will be very, very rich I 'will not take one of these pictures. But I think they represent power, money, and status” (6). There is clear evidence that in this research that images do express meaning and people interpret its significance. This assumption from people made me think about the controversial arguments about Disney. There are many hidden messages in our favorite Disney movies that we think the young children that watch them do not understand. This may be true for some, but the messages about ethnicity, race, and gender are made very obvious through these characters images. The majority of the Disney Princesses are white, wealthy, and beautiful. This image is put in to the minds of young people, especially young girls, that this is the only acceptable image. How would one feel if you were African American and grew up with out having a princess that looked like you? Wouldn’t that make you feel as if you were not an equal and in order to feel accepted you had to look white? One of the participants made the comment that “American women wear too much makeup” (8) which goes along with the role that women should play in society; looking beautiful. Also, it can be interpreted that women can not save themselves and that the men have to save them. In the majority of Disney movies this man is always portrayed as a hero. The man always saves the woman from her troubles portraying his masculinity. The only movie that does not portray this exact image is Mulan. However, in order for Mulan to accomplish what she went out to do she had to pretend to be a man. Although I do feel that people at times can look in to things a little too much and over-analyze, I do understand and see how a certain image can create opinions and make a statement indirectly.
In my classroom there are going to be many diverse ethnicity, races, and genders especially because I will either be an ESL teacher or a Spanish teacher. I will try and focus on the positives of every race and have the students draw and take their own images of what really is reality compared to what they are just seeing as stereotypes.
In my classroom there are going to be many diverse ethnicity, races, and genders especially because I will either be an ESL teacher or a Spanish teacher. I will try and focus on the positives of every race and have the students draw and take their own images of what really is reality compared to what they are just seeing as stereotypes.
