Different but the same? – gender stereotypes in selected textbooks for teaching Polish as a foreign language (A1 and A2 levels)

Abstract

The article discusses the problem of functioning of stereotypes in the process of teaching the Polish language and culture as foreign language to an adult student. Thanks to the didactic materials presented during the course, learners re-construct the stereotypes of, for example, Polish, Poles, Polish woman, Polish family and social relations. The description was limited to gender stereotypes and social roles of women and men, their interests, as well as appearance and character traits. The analysis allows to claim that the stereotypical gender image in the didactic materials is present to a different extent. In the analyzed textbooks for teaching Polish as a foreign language, published at the beginning of the 21st century, the content of the stereotype of a woman and a man undergoes modifications. Young people, regardless of gender, are open to the world, they study, travel around Poland and Europe, and maintain contacts with their peers from all over the world. Women who have already finished their studies appear to be people performing professions previously considered female and male professions, similarly they perform almost all activities at home, and men are people for whom professional work is the most important.