A Gender Analysis of Reading-Books for Pupils of 1st and 2nd Years of Primary Schools

The diploma thesis A Gender Analysis of Reading-Books for Pupils of 1st and 2nd Years of Primary Schools focuses on the topic of gender in education. Specifically, it examines the ways in which female and male characters are represented in the texts and illustrations in textbooks and considers whether these are stereotypical views of gender and whether these are gender-sensitive views. The research consists of a quantitative content analysis of three reading-books and of qualitative interpretation of their gender correctness and sensitivity. It is set in a framework of theoretical foundations of psychology, sociology, feminist theory and gender studies. The work is based on the premise that the school as an institution plays an important role in gender socialization of children and the thesis therefore aims to find out whether and eventually how these reading- books promote gender equality. Key words: gender, gender stereotypes, gender system, socialization, school, textbook