Investigated whether positive female traits were attributed to male main characters in six basal readers. Although positive female traits appeared in the male characters, the overall composite and depiction of individual characters indicate that male personalities are dominated by male-linked virtues such as independence and a willingness to take…

Discusses the fact that, although publishers have acknowledged the problem of sex bias in textbooks in the United States, guidelines lack specifics, timetables, and procedures for monitoring content and enforcing compliance with the guidelines. (MB)

The problem of deficient and inaccurate teaching materials is identified and documented--a total approach to the problem would see the removal of all elementary school textbooks with tacit or implicit sexism, racism, ethnic bias and stereotyping in their stories' plots, language, and illustrations. (MM)

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…

To determine whether elementary reading textbooks from a socialist country contained less sex-role stereotyping than previously-studied United States readers, an analysis of 374 books from the German Democratic Republic (G.D.R.) was undertaken. A sex bias index was calculated for both the G.D.R. and the U.S. books by finding the average difference…

Analysis of sex and race representation in almost 3000 stories drawn from 77 basal readers in 7 series published between 1980 and 1982 shows that, although minority and female numerical representation has increased, there has been little progress in role models offered. In terms of representation in the labor force, males of all races were…

To draw the attention of teachers to the many kinds of bias that can be found in print, the 10 chapters of this monograph review a number of studies of ways in which biased texts may affect children's attainments as well as their attitudes. The chapters that comprise Parts One and Two center on the more specific issues that relate to the influence…

Evaluates the Greek governments' gender equality educational policy; new reading books that the Greek government presented in 1983 as solving previously reading books' sexism; and views of the educational establishment, women's organizations, and teachers concerning old and new books and new books' efficacy in light of textual analyses. (RLC)

Highlights the need in Nigeria for equal representation of the sexes in young adult reading materials. (AUTH/ARH)

Recent research investigating the effects of sexism in elementary school textbooks on readers is reviewed to determine children's responses in terms of reading preferences, sex-role attitudes and behaviors, and comprehension abilities. The degree of sexism in textbooks was determined by the proportion of female main characters, the presentation of…

Since materials used in the classroom play a vital role in the educational process, it is essential that educators develop an awareness of sex and racial stereotyping in instructional materials. Massachusetts regulations adopted in 1975 require that schools present all cultures, nationalities, sexes, and races in fair perspective. This booklet has…

This practicum was designed to improve an elementary school library's resources by making them more balanced in terms of portraying the diversity that exists in society: specifically the need to portray characters of different gender and diverse ethnic backgrounds in positive roles. The topics covered in this report are: (1) introduction, which…