The Intersection of Religion and Gender in Textbooks in the Baltic States

Several countries have implemented policies to safeguard gender equality. While education serves as a tool for societal transformation, the expectation that general education would inherently promote gender equality encounters challenges, particularly in the teaching of religion—a traditionally male...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteurs: Schihalejev, Olga 1969- (Auteur) ; Geikina, Laima (Auteur) ; Dikšaitė, Rimgailė (Auteur) ; Liimets, Kätlin (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
Vérifier la disponibilité: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Publié: 2023
Dans: Religion and society in Central and Eastern Europe
Année: 2023, Volume: 16, Numéro: 1, Pages: 93-112
Accès en ligne: Volltext (kostenfrei)
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Description
Résumé:Several countries have implemented policies to safeguard gender equality. While education serves as a tool for societal transformation, the expectation that general education would inherently promote gender equality encounters challenges, particularly in the teaching of religion—a traditionally male-dominated field. This article delves into the examination of how textbooks in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania address gender representation within the realm of teaching religion. Although gender bias in textbooks has been scrutinized across various subjects, religious contents have received comparatively less attention. In Estonia, where religious education is limited, study focused on civics and citizenship education materials, while Lithuania examined religious and moral education textbooks. Latvia's analysis centered on Christian education materials. Employing abductive content analysis in all three countries, predetermined categories provided a framework, allowing some flexibility in the selection of textbooks. The resultsof the analysis revealed consistent patterns across all three countries —male characters outnumbered females, portraying a predominantly masculine narrative concerning religious tradition. The textbooks reflected the historical male dominance in religion(s). The conclusion offers a discussion of potential solutions to address the identified issues, aiming to contribute to a more inclusive and gender-equitable educational landscape.
ISSN:1553-9962
Contient:Enthalten in: Religion and society in Central and Eastern Europe
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.20413/rascee.2023.16.1.93-112