Bias in Textbooks Essay

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Bias in Textbooks

Davidson, J.W. And Stoff, M.B. (2010) America: History of Our Nation. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

The objective of this work is to review a K-12 textbook in terms of the seven forms of bias which include: (1) invisibility; (2) stereotyping; (3) imbalance and selectivity; (4) unreality; (5) fragmentation and isolation; (6) linguistic bias; and (7) cosmetic bias. Toward this end this work has chosen to relate the review of a textbook published by Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey entitled "America: History of Our Nation."

Invisibility

The invisibility bias is clear in Davidson and Stoffmans' (2010) textbook characterized by the lack of representation of women characters in the recounting of the history of the early Americas. Certainly, the women who assisted in settling the 'new land' should be mentioned as their role in this endeavor certainly was one of a critically important nature however, women are little mentioned in the historical accounts in this specific textbook. Also invisible in Davidson and Stoff's work are the women and white southerners who contributed positively to live in general and to dispelling the mindset that propelled such bias respectively.

II. Stereotyping

Stereotyping is clearly evidenced in this textbook and specifically on pages 876 and 877 in which it is stated "Many white southerners were adverse to segregation" which is an absolute perfect example of stereotyping white southerners during the time that desegregation was a current and heated issue. Many southerners can recall the stories of a husband, father, grandfather or other family member who served in the National Guard or for the Alabama State Troopers Association and who stood guard on the historical day that the first black student entered the all white school despite the attempt of then Alabama Governor, George C. Wallace blocking the entrance to the school.

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To state that many white southerners were against segregation is quite simply a blatant stereotypical representation of white southerners of that day.

III. Imbalance/Selectivity

On pages 662 and 663 of Davidson and Stoff's (2010) work it is stated that Mexican immigrants to the United States wanted to preserve their language and culture and that they therefore created barrios or ethnic Mexican-American neighborhoods. The historical account in this instance is biased in that it is an imbalanced and selective type of account of history. Mexican-American immigrants desired greatly to integrate into the American society in most cases and that which barred them was not their living arrangement in the form of having made their own choice but instead was living arrangements that were forced upon these individuals and families in what was in actuality segregation of neighborhoods based on race and ethnicity during that timeframe.

IV. Unreality -- Rose Color Glasses

It is reported by Davidson and Stoff (2010) on pages 972 and 973 of the textbook that in March 2003 that the U.S. led a coalition of "about 30 nations in an attack on Iraq" and the fact is that there were not that many coalition nations involved and moreover the United States managed to alienate some of their most loyal and long-standing allies. This report glorifies….....

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