Women in ELT

Description

“[Women in ELT] is a book you must have on your bookshelf… Lethaby and Harris have given us an invaluable resource that deserves not just to be read, but to be discussed, shared, and more importantly, acted upon.” – Aleksanda Popovski, IATEFL Voices 2025

Launching the Action on Issues series, Women in ELT explores how and why sexism and gendering is so prevalent in English language teaching, and offers practical ways to combat it. Gender inequality has far-reaching historical roots across much of society, and the story of women’s status and position in ELT is an intrinsic part of this complex history. In this thought-provoking book, Carol Lethaby and Patricia Harries explore how gender inequality applies to ELT, arguing that by looking at the origins of the patriarchal system and making connections between the history of the English language and gender inequality within the ELT industry, we can shine a light on the reasons for the existence of this far from simple problem.

Part 1 provides an accessible, evidence-based exploration of the history, theory, neuroscience and current circumstances that make sexism and gendering so prevalent. Part 2 develops these themes further, giving examples and applications to English language teaching and learning. The book then offers practical ways for teachers and teacher educators to face these issues in their own contexts – both within the classroom, and in the wider ELT industry. As well as drawing on their own experiences, the authors have interviewed several prominent ELT professionals.

There are no easy answers; but Women in ELT provides accessible evidence-based research and discussion alongside practical ideas and strategies for making a difference.

“Women in ELT is a useful and timely read. It would make a great choice for teacher trainers or academic managers to make considered and informed decisions and provides teachers with the background knowledge and practical ideas to make informed decisions in the classroom.” – Fari Greenaway, Modern English Teacher, Vol 34, Issue 5, September/October 2025

“Women in ELT is an important book, both identifying key problems and proposing a range of practical ways of addressing them.” – Jane Sunderland, Women in ELT, ELT Journal, Volume 80, Issue 1, January 2026, Pages 179–181, https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccaf047

About the series

The Action on Issues series will seek to amplify voices and expose complexities by providing information about topics that may be hidden from sight, and by giving a voice to people and groups who may be marginalised or disenfranchised. Each book will offer teachers practical ways to challenge the status quo both in their own classrooms and throughout the ELT profession.

Carol Lethaby and Patricia Harries are also co-authors of An Introduction to Evidence-Based Teaching in the English Language Classroom from Pavilion ELT.