Protecting Feminist Culture through Feminine Register in Speculative Fiction: Linking Curriculum and Reading for Pleasure in NSW High Schools.

Authors

Abdul Baseer, NSW Department of Education, AustraliaFollow

Date of this Version

2024

Document Type

Article

Comments

Dr Abdul Baseer is working as a high school teacher of English at the New South Wales Department of Education, Australia. Currently, he is teaching at Endeavour Sports High School and Marsden High School, Sydney. He holds a PhD degree in English, a Postgraduate Diploma in TEFL, and is currently doing Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) at Charles Sturt University, Australia. Previously, he taught English for many years at Government College University Faisalabad Pakistan and Riphah International University Faisalabad Pakistan, after teaching English at the Federal Directorate of Education Islamabad Pakistan and the Department of Higher Education, Punjab Pakistan.

Abstract

This paper presents a case for speculative fiction’s potential to uphold the feminist cause in our current global scenario of male violence. Young Adult (YA) and children’s speculative fiction around feminist themes should be included in high school libraries for pleasure for reading and forms of support to the current curriculum and to address contemporary social issues including patriarchy and less space for feminist agency. This writing suggests five titles in current speculative fiction built around the feminine register for inclusion in a New South Wales high school’s library collection targeting stages 5 and 6 students and linked to the curriculum.