Os livros didáticos no ensino médio e suas representações sobre a sexualidade.

Abstract

Referencing the theory of social representations, this study aims to investigate textbooks in order to understand and to analyze the social representations of sexuality from this educational resource. We chose the textbooks because it is important and widely used in the teaching-learning process at the classroom. This research was conducted in public and private high schools from the city of Campina Grande – PB, Brazil. It is adocumentary and qualitative work. The data were submitted to the technique of Thematic Content Analysis proposed by Bardin (1977). We noticed, among other factors, that the sexuality approach still guided by a biological matrix, which focuses on the reproductive system, contraception methods, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Conversely, we can also see the discussion of gender, from its concept, in order to clarify and differentiate how the biology and sociology address this matter. The results show that the sexuality issue still presents an incipient way, which demonstrates the need for further discussion on this issue.