Contribution To Gender Equality In Education: Critical Analysis Of Science And Social Studies Textbooks

Nikolić, Ana-Marija. (2017). Contribution To Gender Equality In Education: Critical Analysis Of Science And Social Studies Textbooks. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Pedagogy. [mentor Bartulović, Marija].

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Abstract

The most accurate way of counteracting gender discrimination is by means of detection and extermination of stereotypes and prejudices which are implanted by education. Discriminatory messages that are implicitly transmitted through the hidden curriculum represent the biggest challenge. This paper focuses on gender analysis of one part of the hidden curriculum – the textbooks of Nature and Social Studies. Theoretical sections of this paper describe the following: the legal framework of gender equality, a brief historical framework of the status of women in the society and the most remarkable gender analysis of Croatian textbooks with examples that could help eliminate gender stereotypes and prejudices. Empirical part of this paper presents results of a critical analysis of the textbooks of Nature and Social Studies. Results show that women and men are quantitatively equally represented, while qualitative analysis confirms the dominance of men, mostly in the fourth grade textbooks that teach about the history of the country. The professional careers are still characterized by stereotypical division, which can also be seen related to child care activities, while the images which depict housework show significant progress towards gender equality. Collected results might serve as a starting point for further research, as well as guidelines for textbooks’s authors and educational workers in the fight against gender stereotypes and discrimination.

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