Introductory Economics Textbooks and the Treatment of Issues Relating to Women and Minorities, 1984 and 1991
Author(s)
Feiner, Susan F.
Abstract
In their study of the treatment accorded topics relating to race and gender in introductory economics textbooks, Feiner and Morgan ( 1987 ) examined all editions of 21 introductory economics textbooks that appeared over the ten-year period from 1974 to 1984 and assessed both the quantity and quality of coverage of issues concerning the economic statues of women and minorities. Although the research findings were not overly encouraging, there were indications that introductory economics textbooks had improved the coverage of these issues during the period studied, and that such progress was likely to continue. At present, issues relating to race, gender, and the economy are becoming increasingly important in both theoretical and policy work, and consequently, teachers’ attention to these issues is critical. In the current study, I reexamined 16 of the 21 introductory economics books from the original 1974 to 1984 sample set and analyzed them in terms of their treatment of these issues.
