The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Gender representation in the public sector schools textbooks of Pakistan
Abstract
This paper examines gender biases in school textbooks after a decade long effort by the ministry of education (MoE) Pakistan and international organisation (IOs) to eliminate all forms of gender inequality in education. The intention underpinning these initiatives was to nurture a view of gender equality based consciousness through the introduction of more positive gendered images into school textbooks in Pakistan. However, the study discussed in this paper discovered that schools textbooks are still embedded with gender-biased messages and stereotypical representations of male and females. Gender biases in 24 textbooks (Urdu, English and Social Studies) from class 1 to 8 were analysed with the help of a qualitative content analysis approach. The paper draws attention to the insouciant approach taken by the MoE and IOs towards the goal of gender equality. The study found that, despite the prevailing claims of achievements, the new textbooks are ideologically invested – and contribute to the perpetuation of gender inequality. In this context, the gender blindness of the curriculum designers and textbook authors is a matter of serious concern.
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“The overall findings show that professions attached to female characters are traditional, and lower in prestige and income.”
From Gender stereotypes and education: A comparative content analysis of Malaysian, Indonesian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi school textbooks (2018) · cites this paper as [108]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ullah, H., & Skelton, C.
- Affiliations
- International Islamic University, Islamabad (PK)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ullah, Hazir
- ORCID
- Ullah, Hazir
- Venue
- Educational Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-07-04
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 183-194
- ISSN
- 0305-5698 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3400
- OpenAlex
- W2001030071
- Cited by
- 141
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Studies (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Studies in Language
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Sexuality, and Education
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Media, Gender, and Advertising
- Keywords
- gender representation, gender bias, school textbooks, gender equality in education, gender stereotypes, curriculum development, textbook authors, gender blindness, Pakistan, public schools
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