Gender inequality stemming from textbooks.

Gender discrimination, favoring boys over girls, is clearly evident even in textbooks from the primary school level.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Tuyet, a lecturer in the Sociology Department of the Academy of Journalism and Communication, has conducted a rather interesting and thought-provoking study on this issue.

The illustrations in textbooks consistently portray a stereotypical division of labor between men and women, making it difficult to achieve gender equality as demanded by society.

Only men can be scientists.

The study was conducted based on an analysis of the content of 10 current Vietnamese language textbooks from grades 1 to 5. According to Ms. Tuyet Minh, the research results show that the appearance of both main and supporting characters in the 487 lessons of the 10 textbooks indicates that women tend to participate in simple professions that require little expertise, and if they are intellectuals, they are always associated with teaching. Men, on the other hand, appear in all fields requiring high levels of expertise as well as good physical strength and health.

	Gender equality will not be achieved if future generations continue to be socialized within stereotyped gender frameworks.
	Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Tuyet , lecturer at the Department of Sociology - Academy of Journalism and Communication

Eight out of eight articles mentioning professions requiring high levels of skill, intellect, and creativity, such as researchers and scientists, were all written by men. There were absolutely no female researchers or scientists. Male participation in this field remains absolute. Furthermore, the research also indicated that 16 out of 19 articles mentioning professions requiring specialized skills, intellect, and physical strength, such as soldiers, police officers, sailors, and pilots, featured male characters, with no female participation at all.

Women are still associated with sewing and housework.

The only intellectual profession mentioned in the textbook is teaching, with female teachers appearing in 23 out of 34 lessons. 30 out of 38 illustrations depict female teachers, compared to only 4 out of 38 illustrations showing male figures, and the remaining 4 showing both male and female characters. All 7 illustrations depict professions requiring skill, diligence, and hard work (such as sewing, weaving, and mending) feature women; female figures also dominate the cleaning profession!

Farming, a profession often considered arduous, tiring, and low-paying, also saw a higher proportion of women than men, with 12 out of 22 articles featuring women.

From a broader perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Tuyet's research also indicates that the illustrations and lesson content in Vietnamese textbooks for primary school students show that the activities of women are primarily introverted (at home, in the kitchen, in the yard, etc.); while men are present in almost all extroverted activities.

Introverted woman, extroverted man

Based on the analysis, Ms. Tuyet argues that this will create and maintain a pattern of gender-based division of labor between men and women in the family and society in the following way: men are assigned to specialized functions (tools, professions) to create material wealth; while women are only assigned to expressive functions (culture, emotions) to create spiritual values… “And thus, gender equality will not be achieved if future generations are still socialized according to a pattern of gender stereotypes,” Ms. Tuyet stated.

The Ministry of Education and Training is studying the possibility of making adjustments.

Speaking to a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper about this issue, a representative from the Department of Primary Education (Ministry of Education and Training) stated: The Ministry is currently assigning the Institute of Educational Sciences to research this issue in textbooks for all levels of education, not just primary school. Once the research results are available, specific solutions will be proposed, and adjustments will be made if necessary. However, the Ministry of Education and Training also advises teachers not to treat textbooks as absolute law; explanations and examples from real life provided by teachers to make lessons more engaging and easier to understand are far more important.

Tue Nguyen

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bat-binh-dang-gioi-tu-sach-giao-khoa-185414895.htm