Inequality between women and men, in the past and in the present. A preliminary study about its perception and knowledge in history students

Abstract

The traditional androcentrism of historical studies has generated a biased image of the past and reinforces social inequality between men and women. This research study aims to tackle the perceptions and knowledge of History students about several issues related to inequality between the sexes. By means of the elaboration and implementation of a questionnaire based on a Likert rating scale, the reactions of the students are analysed. These address sexual inequality in the past, in the present and also assess the Degree contents regarding women´s representation in them. Among others, aspects like the conceptions about women´s domination by men in different past societies, matriarchy, patriarchy, the concept of gender or the aims of feminism are approached. In some cases, the student´s responses reveal encouraging attitudes and degrees of knowledge. On the other hand, despite the important changes developed in university diplomas in the last years, the results also show the need to deepen and further develop historical knowledge on inequality between the sexes. Regarding the responses, more differences are observed between courses than between female and male students. This study insists on the importance of overcoming false stereotypes about feminism, which support its rejection and impede its identification with its historical claim: equality between men and women.