GENDER REPRESENTATION IN WRITING OF TEXTBOOKS

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry is making a concerted effort towards a more balanced and gender equitable representation of male and female roles in the writing of textbooks and, if not, why not.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: The Ministry makes a conscious effort in the writing of its instructional materials not to stereotype sex roles. This is reflected in packages such as Home Economics, Civics and Moral Education and the Languages. However, certain roles in society have traditionally been male or female because they are more suited to either sex. It would be unrealistic and unwise to present them otherwise, pretend that differences do not exist, or attempt to change the natural state of affairs by rewriting textbooks.