Contradictions and counter-narratives: a critical discourse analysis exploring representations of male primary school teachers in United Kingdom and Australian newspapers

The representation of male primary school teachers in British and Australian newspapers is a topic of increasing importance, given the ongoing discussions surrounding gender equality in education and broader societal perceptions of men in caregiving roles. Despite efforts to diversify the teaching profession, male teachers remain a minority in primary education. In this paper, we argue that media representations play a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions and attitudes towards gender roles and men in teaching. This paper aims to provide a critical analysis of how the media discusses and portrays primary school teachers, focusing on the discourses, themes, and underlying ideologies present in their representations. To achieve this, we examine the discourse surrounding male primary school teachers in newspapers from the United Kingdom and Australia through the lens of critical discourse analysis (CDA) from 2020 to 2023. Through a content and CDA of newspaper articles, this study explores how male primary school teachers are portrayed, the stereotypes perpetuated, and the implications for gender equality in the education sector. The findings highlight persistent gender biases and suggest the need for more nuanced and balanced representations of male teachers in the media.