Girls and boys in primary maths books

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Abstract
This paper reports on an examination of a number of maths books originally undertaken as part of a contribution to a maths diploma course for primary teachers. The books cover the age range 3–13 and were published between 1970 and 1978. It was discovered that mathematical and scientific skills become increasingly defined as masculine as the pupils move through junior and middle school. Men feature predominantly in these materials throughout the age range and there are few models of adult females operating in the world of mathematics. The representation of girls becomes more marginal and they almost disappear from the scene towards the upper limit of the age range. The fading presence of girls in these books parallels the decline in girls' involvement and achievement in maths between infant school and GCE O and A level examinations.

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