Text Matters - A Study of Gender in a Contemporary Textbook for English A

Abstract: This dissertation is a feminist analysis of Blueprint A, a contemporary textbook for upper secondary English A. Relatively few studies on textbooks and gender have been carried out and those that have do not concern textbooks for the language subjects. In addition to the actual textbook analysis, I have studied the Swedish curriculum for the non-compulsory school system as well as the syllabus for English. Although the curriculum is explicit about the importance of increasing gender equality in education, there is no mentioning of how to implement a gender perspective in the syllabus for English. The textbook takes up various aspects of power, but it does not present any texts or discussions that challenge gender norms. The analysis reveals a rather conservative depiction of men and women.