Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate student teachers’ views regarding the use of fiction
when teaching about gender equality in Home and Consumer Studies (HCS) in Sweden. This
paper draws on questionnaire data and is part of a larger project exploring ways to renew the
teaching of gender equality in HCS. Of 97 students who participated in a workshop, 94 chose
to answer a follow-up questionnaire. Qualitative content analysis of responses to four
questions on the questionnaire resulted in four themes: ‘Using the short story requires didactic
knowledge and awareness’, ‘The model can be used as a tool for structure’, ‘Using fiction in
HCS has potential’, and ‘Support is essential’. Overall, the participants expressed a positive
attitude towards using fiction when teaching about gender equality in HCS. The study implies
that fiction can be used as a didactic tool to approach challenging issues in HCS teaching. The
book-talk model used in the workshop can be successfully used to structure discussions about
gender equality to make societal structures and phenomena visible. Furthermore, the results
indicate that different kinds of support are needed when using fiction, for example textbooks
containing short stories, teacher guides, and collaboration with colleagues.
when teaching about gender equality in Home and Consumer Studies (HCS) in Sweden. This
paper draws on questionnaire data and is part of a larger project exploring ways to renew the
teaching of gender equality in HCS. Of 97 students who participated in a workshop, 94 chose
to answer a follow-up questionnaire. Qualitative content analysis of responses to four
questions on the questionnaire resulted in four themes: ‘Using the short story requires didactic
knowledge and awareness’, ‘The model can be used as a tool for structure’, ‘Using fiction in
HCS has potential’, and ‘Support is essential’. Overall, the participants expressed a positive
attitude towards using fiction when teaching about gender equality in HCS. The study implies
that fiction can be used as a didactic tool to approach challenging issues in HCS teaching. The
book-talk model used in the workshop can be successfully used to structure discussions about
gender equality to make societal structures and phenomena visible. Furthermore, the results
indicate that different kinds of support are needed when using fiction, for example textbooks
containing short stories, teacher guides, and collaboration with colleagues.
| Translated title of the contribution | SKönlitteratur som didaktiskt redskap för att arbeta med utmanande frågor i hem- och konsumentkunskap |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Pages (from-to) | 48-62 |
| Journal | International Journal of Home Economics, IJHE |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Swedish Standard Keywords
- Didactics (50302)
