Assist. Prof Sylvie KERGER

Sylvie Kerger is Assistant Professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Luxembourg. She has been working at the University since 2003. Currently, she teaches in the BScE program (Bachelor en Sciences de l’Éducation). From 2003 to 2006, she has participated in the integration of the former teacher training course (Institut supérieur d’études et de recherches pédagogiques) in the new structure of the University of Luxembourg. Her current teaching subjects are project management, communication between families and schools, school development and gender in childhood.

In her PhD research (2005), she investigated how to enhance girls’ interest in scientific topics. Over the course of her career, she has participated in different research projects (school dropout, gender in educational settings, family-school relationship, and so forth).

From 2019 to 2021, she was the leader of a project that focused on the analysis of gender representations and stereotypes in primary school textbooks.

Her current project is about analysing secondary school textbooks. The aim of this research is to show the prevalence and the persistence of gender stereotypes in visual and written representations through (1) the counting of female, male and non-binary characters, and authors, (2) the description of professional, leisure and domestic activities classified as “feminine” and “masculine”, (3) the use of gender inclusive language, and (4) the intersectional in/visibility with race, disability, and sexual orientation.

She regularly holds workshops, conferences and seminars on the subject of gender in education.