Gray, John; (2023) Between Recognition and Redistribution – The Political Economy of Taboos in Foreign Language Education. In: Ludwig, Christian and Summer, Theresa, (eds.) Taboos and Controversial Issues in Foreign Language Education: Critical Language Pedagogy in Theory, Research and Practice. Routledge: London, UK.

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Abstract

This chapter considers taboos in foreign language education under the heading of political economy, namely the ways in which social institutions, their activities and capitalism influence each other. It takes the view that taboos are a form of politically, ideologically and commercially motived erasure. Two glaring erasures are addressed – that of working class and that of non-normative gender and sexual identities in English language teaching (ELT) materials produced in the UK for global consumption. Drawing on Judith Irvine and Susan Gal’s work on ideology and Nancy Fraser’s theorisation of the distinction between the politics of recognition and the politics of redistribution, the chapter explores why the ELT industry turns a blind eye to these identities. It argues that these erasures are both discriminatory and anti-educational and urgently in need of redress.

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