Women in history textbooks - What message does this send to the youth?
Abstract
History textbooks, like all textbooks, play an important role in the
facilitation of learning. They act as vehicles by means of which past knowledge
legitimated by government and related authorities, as contained in the
curriculum, is presented to school-going youth. Textbooks are by nature
powerful and authoritative because they are approved by government and
other authorities. As a result, school-going youth are likely to consider the
way women and men are portrayed in history textbooks as unquestionable
and historically truthful. Having reported on findings of empirical studies on
women in history textbooks from, amongst others, Taiwan; the United States;
the United Kingdom; Russia and South Africa, we conclude that women are
underrepresented, misrepresented and marginalised in history textbooks.
Women are portrayed as historically unimportant and incapable, contributing
little to society outside of the domestic sphere. We furthermore argue that this
type of portrayal sends powerful messages to the youth about men and women
in history and in contemporary society.