Critical discourse analysis of gender representation in the textbook al-‘Arabiyah li al-Nasyi’in

The polemic of gender equality and justice in its status and role in society is one of the studies that is often echoed to this day. Polemics over gender equality can be found in various fields, one of which is in the field of education, especially in the learning media, namely textbooks. The purpose of this study is to describe how the discourse or text in the book al-Arabiyah li al-Nasyi'in Volume 2 by Mahmud Ismail Shini reflects the construction and division of gender roles performed by women and men, as well as the impact on readers' understanding of gender roles based on the subject-object position and the position of the author-reader of Sara Mills' theory in the textbook. The data of this research are texts that contain gender perspectives from the textbook al-Arabiyah li al-Nasyi'in Volume 2. The method used in this research is library research. These findings indicate that al-Arabiyah li al-Nasyi'in Vol. 2 reinforces gender bias by portraying women in domestic roles and men in public roles, reflecting patriarchal norms. Such representations shape young readers' perceptions, highlighting the need for more inclusive and equitable educational materials. This study contributes to revealing how gender representation in textbooks shapes the social construction of young readers, while also encouraging the development of more equitable, fair, and stereotype-free educational materials.