Gender and diversity representations in textbooks in Luxembourgish secondary education.

Teaching materials, and particularly textbooks, play an essential role in the socialisation of children through the communication of values. As „textbooks are not a reflection of reality, but an arrangement of the representation of a society that they legitimise” (Brugeilles & Cromer, 2008, p.42), we argue that they contribute to challenging, perpetuating, or increasing gender inequalities.
The results of our first study on Luxemburgish primary school textbooks, already published, indicate an androcentric view (Kerger & Brasseur, 2021). In every textbook, we counted more male than female characters in the texts and the illustrations. Men are more often represented in professional activities, while women are more likely to perform domestic activities. The celebrities represented are more often men than women.

This poster presents the results of history textbooks in secondary school. It shows an ethnocentric perspective on the representation of non-white characters and those with disabilities.
People with disabilities are almost exclusively portrayed when disability as a subject is being discussed.
Use of racist language.
These representations do not transmit the realities of societal complexities and they contribute to the marginalization and discrimination of non-white people and people with disabilities.