Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, August, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Three Canadian home economics textbooks currently used in teaching human relationships were examined to explore the ways in which they are or are not contributing to gender equity. The research posed three questions: To whom is the textbook addressed? What are the characteristics of learners assumed by the textbook? and In what way does the textbook deal with gender bias? In each textbook the preface, index, table of contents, photographs, highlighted sections, and content were examined in detail. The texts were compared to determine commonalities. The methodology was adapted from earlier textbook analyses of sex equity which were based on the study of intentions outlined in the preface, photographs, and language. Recent feminist work suggests that studies of bias must consider not only the biological concept of sex but also the social construction of gender which relates to those characteristics, activities, and roles traditionally associated with one sex. The feminist concepts of gender sensitivity and gender balance were used in this textbook analysis. The textbooks were found to contribute to gender equity in five Ways. The first approach, including males, is not adequate because it involves the risk of males and a male perspective becoming dominant. The second approach, using inclusive language, is also inadequate because it involves the risk of masking the differences existing between females and males and the problems arising from gender. Exposing differences and addressing social issues relating to gender are two approaches which may hold promise in contributing to gender equity but in the texts examined were inadequate because the issues were presented as neutral or unproblematic. Encouraging critical thinking was the final approach used in only one textbook and its contribution to gender equity was minimal because critical thinking was applied inconsistently and rarely applied specifically to problems of gender. Gender sensitivity and gender balance require the appropriate use of inclusive and sex specific language, the balanced inclusion of females and males, and detailed, sensitive, and critical discussion of issues related to gender. The findings of this study raise concerns about the analysis of textbooks. Home economics textbooks have the unique challenge of including males without allowing males and a male perspective to become dominant. Overcoming the problems of gender requires sensitivity in exposing gender differences. Neutralizing knowledge and presenting knowledge as factual rather than problematic masks differences and problems arising from them. The findings of this research suggest analysis of textbooks for gender bias should not be restricted to surface features such as explicit intentions stated in prefaces, photographs, and language. Elimination of gender bias requires substantive changes in textbook content. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Thesis (M.A.) Psychology, Experimental--University of Central Oklahoma, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-48 ).

Thesis (M. Ed.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Education. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-130). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71576.

It seems self-evident that novels and other literary forms profoundly influence the way we think, feel and learn about society. However, while a number of studies have acknowledged the importance of textbooks used within the school curriculum, few have examined novels that are studied within the high school English program. Thus this thesis focuses on gender-bias found in a study of 21 novels identified as those most commonly used in the high schools of the Lakeshore School Board. The results show significant gender imbalance in all categories: the number of female authors, characters, voices, and perspectives. The recommendations that arise from this study are (1) that English teachers be aware of the issue of gender bias when they select novels for their students. (2) that strategies be developed in the classroom to address gender-bias in literature, and (3) that a balanced literature curriculum be developed.

No description available.

The objective of this study was to determine whether gender stereotypes are present in elementary reading, textbooks published during the 1980s, and how the extent of stereotyping compares with textbooks published during the last two decades. Both manifest and latent content analyses were performed on a random sample of stories drawn from 4th and 5th grade reading textbooks. Chi-square analyses were performed to determine whether significant changes have occurred with regard to gender stereotypes over the last three decades, controlling for publishing company and sex of author. Five different publishing companies, randomly selected from a list of thirteen publishers approved for use by the Virginia Board of Education in 1988, were represented in the sample. The manifest content, was analyzed by comparing the number of male and female characters, number of female and male main characters, types of occupations held by male and female characters, number of females and males in illustrations, and the race of characters. The latent content was analyzed by comparing the sex of characters most likely to exhibit each of seven different gender,stereotyped traits.. The latent content was further analyzed by looking for gender stereotyped themes and quotes, and non-traditional themes and quotes in stories. / Master of Science

Gender bias, as well as other forms of discrimination, have been deemed unacceptable by today's standards. Research indicates that while it is not obtrusive, gender bias in the media is pervasive and potent. Textbooks are a communication medium which not only convey the requisite knowledge of a particular subject, but also, subliminally, norms and expectations of behavior for individuals in society. These subliminal messages, sometimes termed the hidden curriculum, may serve as inhibitors of an individual's aspirations and goals. The purposes of this study, therefore, were to analyze current kinesiology literature to determine if gender bias was present and if so, was the gender of the author associated with the presence of bias. A third purpose was to compare the results of this study with previous related research.

The purpose of my graduate thesis creative project, Girl Is a Four-Letter Word: Gender Biased Imaqe and Language is to call attention to the subliminal messages about stereotypical female qualities and female role expectations transmitted through the use of our language. My focus is on classroom visuals and reading textbooks used in the 1950s and 1960s, which illustrate very separate paths of gender social development. I have created a series of twenty-two paintings, in which I have juxtaposed images inspired from old textbooks and mild four-letter words to illustrate double-entendre associations and implied sexual innuendoes in everyday language.The creative project began with extensive research to find examples of textbooks from the 1950s, to review the textbooks in the historical context of America's educational goals and to study artists who have investigated themes of language and meaning of images in their work. Specific artists researched who have explored these ideas historically include Rene Magritte, Jasper Johns and Barbara Kruger. The actual artworks of several abstract expressionists were examined closely because of a similarity in painting technique and style.The paintings produced for this thesis project were executed with oil paint on recycled stretched canvases. Thick paints were applied straight from the tube and layered in thick impasto. The composition of all paintings include a vignetted image or isolated object in the center of the canvas with a label placed below, similar to the format of flashcards used for learning to read. The image and words together create a relationship pointing out blatant gender-biased associations, displayed with tongue-in-cheek humor. / Department of Art

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / References in English and Japanese. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-174).