The aim of this study is to examine the representation and portrayal of men and women in Swedish textbooks. The study is based on four textbooks used to teach literary history in Svenska 2, and it focuses on the authors who are represented in the chapters about realism. The theoretical frame on which the investigation is founded is gender theory, and the study is conducted with a gender perspective. With this background, three following research questions were formed: To what extent do male and female authors respectively represent realism in textbooks for upper secondary school? What differences and similarities are there in the portrayal of the two categories? In what ways is the representation of gender in textbooks in line with or deviating from the curriculum? 

The method used in the study is a textual analysis, in which the textbook content is examined quantitatively.  A qualitative analysis follows. The investigation shows, among other things, that the distribution of space to male and female authors is unequal. In the portrayal of men and women, gender stereotypes are reproduced, and gender norms are confirmed. Lastly, the study shows that the values represented in the curriculum are not reflected in the textbooks.