This essay focuses on how women and the woman emancipation are described in high school history textbooks from the years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000, using the theories history consciousness and gender. Two textbooks are analyzed from each period. There are several gender theories, in this essay it is Yvonne Hirdman’s theory concerning woman- and gender history that is used. This means that the woman emancipation and women’s history are analyzed from the perspectives invisible, add, and-, how- and gender history. Concerning the theory history consciousness Jeisman’s four definitions are used. The woman’s role and the woman emancipation are also examined from the variables work, education and the woman’s role at home.

During analyzing the text books it became clear that the presence of a history consciousness and gender perspective gradually became higher the newer the textbook was which means there were big differences in the books from year 1970 to year 2000.