Four eighth grade literature anthologies ("Focus,""Counterpoint,""Perception," and "Adventures for Readers") were analyzed to determine what roles women played in adolescent literature anthologies. Out of the 171 selections analyzed, only 24 had female authors. Selections which contained no female characters, depicted women in a negative view, or…

This article is the world history counterpart to a previous paper on American history textbooks, "How Much of the Sky? Women in American History High School Textbooks from the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s," Social Education, January/February 2004. The authors of this article examined six books from each decade, the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s. The analysis…

How many names of women from American history can the average, recent high school graduate come up with? How does this number compare with the number of males she or he can name? These are the kinds of questions that informed Janice Trecker's classic study of U.S. high school textbooks. They were also the basis for the research in Sadker and…

Reports the results of research concerning the portrayal of the sexes in music textbooks. Suggests that such portrayals may reinforce women's underrepresentation in music education. Reports that men in the illustrations were more likely than women to be identified and presented in formal portraits. Discusses the stereotypical association of the…

A content analysis of 24 of the most widely used preservice teacher education textbooks was conducted in the following areas: sexism, sex differences, women's contributions, and total text content accorded to each sex. Findings indicated that these texts are characterized by omission and imbalance. Recommendations are made for future text…

This paper addresses the types of gender bias stereotyping that has been prevalent in children's books and its impact on children. Results are presented of a gender role model analysis that used the International Reading Association's Children's Choices book list, and recommendations are given to help correct and balance gender stereotypes when…

A content analysis of a 1976 series of primary reading textbooks was conducted to analyze salient factors affecting female role socialization. Examined in its entirety, the series was designed for grades one through six and contained 573 entries and 4,831 illustrations. In each of the textbooks, regardless of grade level, twice as many males as…

This book, published by the Council on Interracial Books for Children, presents a content analysis instrument for assessing the portrayal of women and third world peoples in U.S. History textbooks. Thirteen textbooks published since 1970 and one which was published in 1967 are examined for their treatment of six groups: women, African Americans,…

This document reports on an investigation focusing on how the content of introductory college psychology texts' content related to physical attractiveness and self-esteem. The primary objective of this study was to review how recently published life-span developmental texts present physical development in middle childhood as related to traditional…

This study examined the portrayal of women in current U.S. history textbooks which are used in the classroom. Among the questions explored were the following: who among outstanding women is or is not noted, what topics are covered or omitted, how are average women of selected eras treated, and how are women who fought for currently controversial…

Reports a content analysis of 27 current textbooks in introductory psychology and 12 for human development courses. Representation of work, theory, and behavior of males continues significantly to exceed the representation of females; and females are frequently portrayed in negative and gender-biased ways. (SLD)

Teachers and administrators should be able to distinguish between adequate and inadequate treatment of different ethnic groups when selecting culture-fair materials for the classroom. When selecting such materials, they should consider the following criteria: (1) validity of information (accuracy, perpetuation of stereotypes); (2) balance…

Reports a survey of 66 history textbooks, published after 1980, to determine the extent of sex equity content. Found that no examined text met the sex equity policy of the Ontario Ministry of Education. Describes the treatment of females as inaccurate, marginal, incidental, and trivial. Provides examples from the texts surveyed. (LS)

Reports on a study of introductory college economics textbooks on the quality and quantity of coverage of the economic status of women and minorities. Finds that textbooks still have a tendency to exclude women and minorities from the general discussion and disguise the multiplicity of explanations for observed differences. (CFR)