A Study on Gender Stereotypes and Gender Consciousness Reflected in the View of Chinese Basic Education Teachers and Textbooks

Abstract

The effects of gender stereotypes presented in educational textbooks and teachers’ ideas on students’ gender consciousness in primary school have attracted the attention of numerous scholars. This study examines the presentation of gender stereotypes in two public primary schools in Chongqing, China, using primary school teacher interviews and the analysis of Chinese textbooks published by the People's Education Press. Concurrently, this study demonstrates that gender stereotypes exert an influence on students' ideas, as evidenced by the findings of the questionnaire administered to students in these two educational institutions. To investigate this topic, this study combined two exploratory approaches. The first was interview with teacher to examine their conceptions related students’ gender consciousness and how they act upon their assumptions in the interaction with students. The second approach involved analysing qualitatively figures and texts in primary school textbooks, aiming to identify if and how gender stereotypes are present in such materials. In the student questionnaire, it was observed that the gender stereotypes identified in teacher interviews and textbooks were also evident in students’ choices. The purpose of this study is to draw the attention of relevant primary school teachers, textbook writers and primary school institutions to the issue of gender stereotypes and provide a reference point for subsequent research on gender stereotypes in Chinese primary education.