Minister supports calls to address issue of gender bias in English literature

Commons Leader Lucy Powell said more young people should be studying female authors to understand women’s contribution to the ‘progress of society’.

Jane Austen books (National Library of Scotland/PA) (PA Media)

A minister has supported calls to address the issue of gender bias in English literature, after MPs were told that just 2% of pupils studied a female author at GCSE.

Commons Leader Lucy Powell said more young people should be studying female authors to understand women’s contribution to the “progress of society”.

She added that gender bias would be part of the Government’s focus in the curriculum review, which was launched by the Department for Education (DfE) in July.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review aims to create a “broader, richer, cutting-edge curriculum” that will represent children and their families, the Government has said.

During business questions, Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said over 70% of texts offered to school children have both a male author and a male protagonist.

Speaking from the frontbench, the Bath MP said: “Many students even today will not study a female author at GCSE, a shameful 2% of students studied a female author at GCSE, according to (campaign group) End Sexism in Schools.

“It is not just the authorship of novels where women lack representation, of the said text offered by the most popular awarding body, over 70% have both a male author and a male protagonist.

“Diverse literature enriches children’s education.”

She added: “For the next generation to grow up challenging male dominance in society, boys and girls need to be exposed to empowering representations of women.

“We need more pride and less prejudice in the curriculum.

“In light of the Government’s upcoming Curriculum and Assessment Review, can we have a statement from the minister on how to address the gender bias in English literature?”

Ms Powell replied: “Women and young girls, but actually young boys as well, really should be studying female authors and also understand the contribution that women have played in the progress of society across not just culture and the arts and literature, but also science, engineering and technology – and they’re too often forgotten in our history and in our curriculum.

“I am sure that this is a matter of our curriculum review, and I will ensure that the Secretary of State for Education has heard her very good speech this morning.”