The image of females in Moroccan public school textbooks : a statistical critique of the problems of representation in three levels ‘ lecture and a recommendation for an alternative representation

Dissertant

BinZuynah, Maryam

Thesis advisor

al-Rashidi, Linda Stump

Comitee Members

Pratt, Paula
Fitspatrick, Oney
Akouri, Saphia

University

Al Akhawayn University

Faculty

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

University Country

Morocco

Degree

Master

Degree Date

1997

English Abstract

The representation of females provided in the Moroccan public elementary school textbook Lecture reflects stereotypical gender roles that serve to promote a conservative vision of Moroccan females.

Moreover, it seems to ignore the changes that have marked Moroccan females and society thanks to female education and other socio-economic factors.

The study does a statistical analysis of the problems of representation found in three grades of the Moroccan primary school textbook used for French language classes, Lecture (corresponding to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade textbooks).

This problem diagnosis consists of detecting all the instances of gender representation and critiquing them for sexist bias inherent in them.

This diagnosis was done following three parameters: first, through counting the number of instances where males and females are depicted in the public and private spheres; second, through counting the degree of activity and passivity of each; and third through seeing what kind of roles each sex plays within the family.

The conclusions of this study confirm its hypotheses.

Some of these hypotheses are that Lecture is no different from the other Moroccan public primary school textbooks in terms of its representation of Moroccan females despite the criticism that has targeted the previous textbooks.

Second, that the image of girls is less sexist than that of women.

Third, males and females have separate, well-defined spheres: while the public sphere is a masculine sphere for the most part, the private sphere is definitely the females’.

Fourth, that males are active and females are passive.

Fifth, that males and females have separate complementary roles in the family.

The analysis part includes a presentation of the data summarized in charts and illustrated through graphs, followed by a commentary.

As a remedy for the misrepresentation problems detected in the data analysis, the study offers recommendations for a more correct and accurate representation of Moroccan females in textbooks.

Main Subjects

Social Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

No. of Pages

85

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-591130