Report on Reading Scheme Books: A Gender Audit Helen

Main findings The books were selected because they were a brand new purchase by a Bristol Primary School. We might expect, therefore, at least parity in representations of boys and girls, men and women; who is ‘active’ and who is ‘passive’. In the 26 books examined, only 4 had gender-free characters (animals, fish, etc). The rest were about gendered humans. ‘Peripheral’ actors, that is people featuring in the story but not taking a leading role” M 10 F 13. Main characters – those taking the main role M 27 F 15.