Stereotypes in the curriculum

• Removal of gender stereotypes from textbooks/reading schemes/learning materials has removed a barrier to girls’ achievement

• Before:

  • Women portrayed as housewives and mothers

  • Physics books showed women as frightened by science

  • Maths books presented boys as more inventive

Weiner (1995)

• Girls’ achievement has improved due to:

  • Post-1980’s teachers also challenging stereotypes

  • Sexist images being removed from learning materials

• This increases girls’ achievement by presenting positive images of what women can do