The Effects of Gender in Second Language Acquisition: A Study on Bangladeshi Adult EFL Learners

Abstract

The paper investigated the effects of gender on second language acquisition from sociolinguistics and a poststructuralist feminist approach. Data was gathered from sixty-nine EFL students from different departments at a private university on their performance in English language skills, which included listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and assessed using the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) measurement criteria. The data was collected through random sampling. The MNOVA analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female students' English language skills, both in their individual skills and overall. This study fills a gap in the field of gender-based research in Bangladesh, as no prior research has employed using the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) measurement criteria. The findings also suggest that further research is needed with a larger participant pool and a focus on pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary skills among EFL learners.