The importance of teaching students about gender equality is mentioned throughout the latest version of the Curriculum for Upper Secondary School, GY11. In its very beginning, it is emphasized as follows: “The inviolability of human life, individual freedom and integrity, the equal value of all people, equality between women and men, and solidarity between people are the values that the education should represent and impart.” (Swedish National Agency for Education, 2013 [2011], p. 4). The curriculum further states that highlighting these topics should be integral to teaching.

Historically, Swedish textbooks have been quality controlled by governmental agencies, but since 1991, it is each individual teacher’s responsibility to review the textbooks they plan to use. For this reason, studies that analyze textbooks can be a valuable tool for teachers.

This study aims to find out if the Swedish ESL textbook Blueprint C contains a gender bias. This is done by studying the characters in the book using several different parameters, including representation, attributes and activities performed.

The results are inconclusive, but indicate that Blueprint C may contain elements of gender bias, both in regards to visibility and stereotypical activities. Teachers need to be aware of such elements to be able to use this textbook in a way that is compliant with the values of the curriculum.