Woman in the New Palestinian Curriculum: Arabic Language Curriculum as a Model

Abstract

: School through its curriculum, is the most efficient ideological tool in the hands of the state and the influential classes. It reproduces the reality, deepens or changes it. Curriculum texts and images deliver declared and hidden messages and the influence of the hidden ones are as influential as the declared ones. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the image of woman in the new Palestinian Arabic language curriculum for Basic Elementary Stage (Classes 1-4) as a model. The study found that the Palestinian curriculum is insensitive for gender issues and reinforces the classical/traditional stereotyped image of woman. this is clear in the weak representation of women in general, and in her absence in approximately 46% of texts and images. In addition, even the modest presentation of woman does not reflect the reality of the Palestinian woman or her contributions and ambitions on any of the social, economic, cultural and political levels