Mångfald i marginalen: En analys av representation och maktstrukturer i läroböcker för svenska nivå 2

Sammanfattning

The purpose of this study is to examine how Western and non-Western authors are represented and portrayed in three Swedish textbooks for the upper secondary course Svenska nivå 2. Furthermore, the study analyzes the distribution of male and female authors to identify potential imbalances from a gender perspective. The theoretical framework is based on postcolonial theory, specifically the concept of Otherness, and Basil Bernstein's (2000) theories on vertical and horizontal discourse. The method consists of a qualitative content analysis combined with a quantitative count of authors across the selected textbooks. The results show a significant dominance of Western and male authors. Non-Western and female authors are often marginalized, presented as exceptions, or gathered in separate sections outside the main chronological timeline. A key finding is the discrepancy between the textbooks' introductory promises of global perspectives and the actual content provided. The study concludes that the traditional Western literature remains the norm, placing a great responsibility on teachers to supplement the material to meet the requirements of the national curriculum.