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The Language of Invisibilization: EFL Students’ Inquiry into Male-Directed Sexual Violence

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Linguistic Perspectives on Sexuality in Education

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Language, Gender and Sexuality ((PSLGS))

Abstract

Language educators who adopt a critical perspective problematize unequal relations of power, including those social relations concerning gender and sexualities. Some educators have explored gender and sexuality topics in their classrooms as part of a content-based curriculum that challenges dehumanizing narratives of masculinism and homophobia. This present pilot study involved a content-based course with 15 International Relations and Liberal Arts students in a private university in western Japan. The course focused on the male victims of sexual violence in areas of military conflict. One key aim was to determine whether or not the sensitive course topics would inhibit classroom discussion, and if the learners would feel motivated to engage with course content. Mainly positive outcomes indicate that ‘male-directed sexual violence’ (hereafter MDSV) may be a helpful topic area for some critical language educators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kyoto Shi, Japan

    Robert O’Mochain

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  1. Robert O’Mochain
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Correspondence to Robert O’Mochain .

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  1. Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland

    Łukasz Pakuła

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O’Mochain, R. (2021). The Language of Invisibilization: EFL Students’ Inquiry into Male-Directed Sexual Violence. In: Pakuła, Ł. (eds) Linguistic Perspectives on Sexuality in Education. Palgrave Studies in Language, Gender and Sexuality. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64030-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64030-9_8

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-64030-9

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