Investigation of female characters in social studies 6th and 7 th grade textbooks within the scope of cultural heritage learning area

The research was carried out to examine the place of female protagonists in the "Culture and Heritage" learning area in the 6th and 7th grade MEB Social Studies textbooks. In the study, in which the document review method was used, the data were obtained from the 6th and 7th grade MEB Social Studies textbooks in use in the 2020-2021 academic year. The data obtained were evaluated according to five different sub-problems. Accordingly, in terms of the frequency of female characters; It has been determined that both the 6th and 7th grade textbooks are at a lower level than the male characters. In terms of the harmony between the content and the images of women; While there are few images of women in the 6th grade textbooks published in 2019 and before, no female images are included in the textbooks for 2020; It was seen that there were eight images of women in the 7th grade textbook and these images were also compatible with the content discussed. On the other hand, the number of female images is much less when compared to male images. In terms of the mission imposed on the heroines; While there are six heroines in the 6th grade textbooks, these heroines are given the mission of being married as housewives, and the mission of worthless children to girls; While four heroines were included in the 7th grade textbooks, it was determined that these heroines were assigned the mission of motherhood, the woman who ruled the country, the woman in local dress, and the researcher-authorship. In terms of the professions of the heroines, it has been determined that the professions of the heroines in the 6th grade textbook are not clearly given except for one hero who is stated to be a merchant, and the professions of other female heroes are not clearly included in the 7th grade textbook, except for one hero who is stated to be an author. In terms of the values that are tried to be gained to the students through the female heroes; In the 6th grade textbook, the value of freedom through a Chinese princess who married someone other than her own nation, the value of equality in terms of giving girls the value they deserve with the advent of Islam, love, respect, giving importance to family unity and solidarity with the character of Hatice, the first person to believe. values, love with the hero Amine, the mother of our prophet, values of giving importance to family unity, Hz. Ali. While the values of equality and freedom are given with the hero Ayşe, who opposes Ali's caliphate; In the 7th grade textbook; It is seen that the value of equality with the heroine Sara Hatun, who had a question-answer conversation with the sultan, the aesthetic value with the Greek peasant woman in her visual outfit and the Turkish heroine in a house dress, and the values of science.