Manifestation of Women’s Rights in School Textbooks? Evidence from Social Science Textbooks in India

Abstract

In India, consistent marginalization of women suggests that broader societal transformation is needed to transcend gender stereotypes and foster gender equality. Effective school curriculum and textbook content can influence and revitalize mindsets to respect and uphold women’s rights (WR). This research examines the manifestation and extent to which WR is addressed in Indian school social science textbooks using qualitative content analysis. Data from official primary and secondary school textbooks published between 2006 and 2013 and reprinted between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed, based on the components of WR prescribed by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage). The results indicate that there is negligible focus on WR in textbooks at the elementary level. While both explicit and implicit focus on WR increased at the secondary and senior secondary levels, some vital aspects were either marginally represented or completely missing.