A Content Analysis of Ten Popular History Textbooks for Primary Schools with Particular Emphasis on the Role of Women

Abstract

The content of 10 popular primary school textbooks in history was analysed to establish which aspects of the past they emphasised, particular attention being given to the author's interpretation of the role of women in history. While there was some evidence that a majority of these authors exposed their readers to a broad range of types of history, and that social history was given considerable prominence, in general significant aspects of the past, especially economic, cultural and religious history, were neglected in favour of political and military history. A qualitative as well as a quantitative analysis of the authors’ approach to the role of women in the past revealed that with the exception of one author a very traditional approach was adopted that appeared to be largely unaffected by the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975.