Abstract

Because textbooks can contribute to gender models and roles formation, this review summarizes the main research on equal opportunity in textbooks adopted in primary and secondary school. Both international and national surveys show an unbalanced representation of male and female gender: male characters (vs female ones) are more often the protagonists of stories and their turn in conversations has greater frequency and length; male and female role models are stereotypically represented; the use of the unmarked masculine is dominant. Educational interventions and future paths to equality are discussed in the conclusions.