THE MISSING PIECE: A Comparative Analysis of Content on the Clitoris and Penis in Science Textbooks from the 2024 PNLD

ABSTRACT: Given that bodies labeled as feminine are underrepresented in various areas of society, including education, this study aimed to elucidate how textbooks from the 2024 National Textbook Program (PNLD) represent the homologous organs, clitoris and penis. To do so, seven textbook collections were analyzed in terms of the presence of three aspects: volume of discussion, visual representation, and written representation of these organs. The results highlight the underrepresentation of the clitoris compared to the penis across all analyzed collections, in both written and visual aspects. None of the collections presented the full structure of the clitoris in an explicit and identifiable manner. Additionally, there was a notable tendency to associate the penis with reproductive function and the clitoris with sexual pleasure, along with reinforcement of cisheteronormative perspectives. This discussion led us to recognize the need for a more comprehensive approach to the clitoris, aiming for a science education that embraces bodily, sexual, and gender diversities.