Analysis of the representation of gender equity in the iconography of sixth grade Language and Literature textbooks in Ecuador

Análisis de la representación de la equidad de género en la iconografía de los libros de texto de Lengua y Literatura de sexto grado en Ecuador

Resumen

The main objective was to examine how gender roles are configured in the images, identifying stereotypes and comparing them with the current social reality, through the identification of patterns, codes and relationships in the content. The findings show a predominance of traditional roles, where women continue to be represented in domestic and care contexts, while men are linked to positions of leadership, empowerment and physical activities. Although female empowerment is present in a higher proportion compared to other traditional roles, the association of women with domestic tasks persists, which reflects gender stereotypes that are still in force. In contrast, men are associated with ideas of masculinity and leadership. The research concludes a low representation of topics related to gender inclusion and diversity, such as the presence of people with disabilities or female financial autonomy, which indicates a lack of sensitivity towards these realities in the educational content. These results underscore the need to rethink curriculum design and the inclusion of equitable representations that allow for a plural and diverse view of gender roles in society.