Gender Issues in English Language Teacher Education - Cinderella’s Awakening through Comparative Literature - article

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw

The socio-dynamics of 21st-century classrooms make gender sensitivity a key mechanism shaping intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. This qualitative case study examines how reading and discussing comparative children’s literature can affect pre-service English teachers’ understanding of gender issues in a Turkish university. The study involves 25 senior pre-service teachers during the 2018-2019 academic year fall term, using written reports and semi-structured interviews. Inductive coding and thematic analysis show that comparative fairy-tale reading builds gender sensitivity and critical literacy and supports female participants’ self-sufficiency, with implications for teacher education programs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

A Neglected Perspective in Pre-service Teacher Education: Gender Issues

(Further sections in the paper)

Methodology

Findings

Discussion and Implications

Gender Issues in English Language Teacher Education: Cinderella’s Awakening through Comparative Literature1 Esin KUMLU2 Dokuz Eylül University Hatice İrem ÇOMOĞLU3 Dokuz Eylül University Abstract The socio-dynamics of the 21st century classroom reveals the importance of gender sensitivity as a living mechanism which constructs both intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. This study explores how reading and discussing comparative children’s literature could impact pre-service English teachers’ understanding of gender issues at a university in the west of Turkey. Adopting a qualitative case study design, the present study involved 25 senior pre-service teachers who were taking the literature course in the 2018-2019 academic year, fall term. Data was collected through written reports and semi-structured interviews. We analyzed the data inductively with codes and themes developing out of a recursive process of data collection and analysis. The findings display that a comparative analysis of fairy tales is an effective means through which the pre-service teachers develop gender sensitivity and become critically literate as a teacher. Besides, the comparative analysis helps the female participants improve self-sufficiency as a woman. Implications are also included for language teacher education programs. Keywords: Comparative Literature, Gender Issues, Pre-Service English Teachers, Qualitative Case Study DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2020.334.6 1 For the comparative analysis of the tales Ashputtel and The Magical Little Date Tree, which was the inspiration for this study see Kumlu, E. (2020). Unveiling the Implicit political Agenda: A Comparative Analysis of the Construction of Gender Roles in Grimm’s Ashputtel and Giuseppe Pitré’s The Magical Little Date Tree. Litera, 30(1), 155-175. [https://doi.org/10.26650/LITERA2020-0006](https://doi.org/10.26650/LITERA2020-0006) 2Assist. Prof. Esin Kumlu, Faculty of Education, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey, ORCID: [orcid.org/0000-0002-](orcid.org/0000-0002-) 6884-6382, Correspondence: [esinkumlu@yahoo.com](esinkumlu@yahoo.com) 3 Associate Prof.Hatice İrem Çomoğlu, Faculty of Education, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey, ORCID: [orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-9122](orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-9122), e-mail: [irem.kaslan@gmail.com](irem.kaslan@gmail.com) Introduction The answer to the question; ‘What do we need to do to become well-qualified or ready for today’s world?’ has become one of the main issues of the 21st century. The practice of teaching has undergone dramatic changes in recent years mainly due to the dynamics of a chaotic world, but at the same time, it has the potential to minimize the negative effects of today’s world. This may be achieved, not only by preparing students through educational practices, but also by encouraging them to be socially conscious individuals who are aware of the need for a better social life. It is evident that the teacher and the practice of teaching have been exposed to the harsh social realities and traumas of the 21st century. However, they have the power to bear the burden of these difficulties because the teacher is no longer the one expected to have certain methodological knowledge only, but a guide/coach who prepares her students for life. Especially in the case of teacher education, developing pre-service teachers’ awareness for certain issues is vital and gender issues can be regarded as one of the most significant subjects as they affect the way pre-service teachers interpret and define both themselves and others. In order to develop pre-service teachers’ gender sensitivity, the comparative analysis of fairytales can be a tool as fairy tales are the very source of the way we interpret societal gender roles (Cashdan, 1999; Lieberman, 1986; Parsons, 2004; Rice, 2000; Rowe, 1999; Tatar, 2003; Walkerdine, 1984; Zipes, 1987) . Also, comparative literature increases empathy and encourages understanding of others (Kef

FAQs

What is the main focus of the study?

The study investigates how reading and discussing comparative children’s literature can influence pre-service English teachers’ understanding of gender issues.

How was the research conducted?

A qualitative case study design was used with 25 senior pre-service teachers. Data came from written reports and semi-structured interviews, analyzed inductively through codes and themes.

What did the findings show?

Comparative analysis of fairy tales is presented as an effective way for pre-service teachers to develop gender sensitivity and become critically literate as teachers, and it also helps female participants improve self-sufficiency.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw