The purpose of this paper is to discuss the extent to which sexism exists in elementary and secondary textbooks. The findings of two recent studies of elementary and secondary textbooks are summarized and directed to four questions: Do textbooks describe the real world as females and males experience it in our society? Should textbooks describe the real world as females and males experience it? Can textbooks be nonsexist? Will we eliminate sexism in textbooks? The elementary textbook study indicates that boys are generally portrayed as active and girls as passive, and that adult males have a large choice of occupational roles whereas adult females have a more limited choice. The secondary textbook study suggests that the majority of women in textbook indexes are included because of some relationship to a male. Although these images are representative of the present sexist mold of our society, care should be taken to use only those textbooks that show alternative male and female role models and the complexities inherent in each of these roles. Extreme sexism "consciousness" on the part of textbook authors and editors combined with active concern by citizens groups, teachers, and education organizations can produce good nonsexist literature. (Author/DDB)