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Hi Aaron and everyone,<br>
<br>
This is a really painful thing for me to read. As a scholar, my
research work has been based around the representation of Indigenous
peoples of North America in media and culture. I sincerely doubt
that any of the "tribal members" I know would say that this is a
valid work that would showcase their Indigenous cultures as anything
but another stereotype. Just as I'm sure some women of Tahiti today
would question the relevance today of Gauguin's paintings which
often showcased nude or partially nude Tahitian women - art revered
by both genders and the Western art world. However, I'm not seeking
to speak on behalf of these individuals and communities, nor am I
hear to discuss the creators goal or context with this featured
image. It's more of the fact that <i>this</i> is considered a
choice for the featured front page and the concern that it has given
me as a female contributor to Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, etc. <br>
<br>
You also stated that you do not want to compromise "our core values
just to try to close a "gap" that some feel is such a big issue, if
it even exists."<br>
<br>
This gap does exist, in fact an entire mailing list (which I have
cc'd here and I encourage anyone interested in the topic to join)
was created to work towards bridging this gap. This was triggered by
an article titled "Define Gender Gap? Look Up Wikipedia's
Contributor List" by Noam Cohen, published Jan 30 2011 in <i>The
New York Times</i>: <br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/business/media/31link.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/business/media/31link.html</a><br>
<br>
A great and interesting conversation took place by NYT to reflect on
this situation, which you can read here:<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/02/02/where-are-the-women-in-wikipedia">http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/02/02/where-are-the-women-in-wikipedia</a><br>
<br>
I do hope that perhaps those two articles can show you that there <i>is
</i>a problem, and there are many concerned Wikipedians of all
genders, skin tones, and identities aiming to change that. That is
when images like this deter us from our expansive mission to be more
inclusive. <br>
<br>
And this has nothing to do with me being "sensitive to toplessness"
- you don't know anything about my lifestyle or character to assume
that, regardless of where I live or where I was born.<br>
<br>
#wikilove,<br>
<br>
Sarah<br>
<br>
<br>
On 5/15/2011 10:53 PM, Aaron Adrignola wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:BANLkTikvW75RCB0T5NFm820pHObtWwAfhA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Commons is not censored. It's a beautiful scene and
it would be expected that the an imaginary tribal member would not
have the American sensitivities to toplessness. Some images may
offend. Some articles may offend. We're not going to compromise
our core values just to try to close a "gap" that some feel is
such a big issue, if it even exists.<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 9:31 PM,
CherianTinu Abraham <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:tinucherian@gmail.com">tinucherian@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt
0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);
padding-left: 1ex;">
FYI
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Regards</div>
<div>Tinu Cherian<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message
----------<br>
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Sarah Stierch</b> <span
dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:sarah@sarahstierch.com" target="_blank">sarah@sarahstierch.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Mon, May 16, 2011 at 7:33 AM<br>
Subject: [Gendergap] Photo of the Day on Wikimedia Commons<br>
To: Increasing female participation in Wikimedia projects
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org"
target="_blank">gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#ffffff"> Surely I'm not the
only one who noticed this lovely gem of a photo of the
day today. In my work environment - NFWS.<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page"
target="_blank">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page</a><br>
<br>
Direct link to image:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:On_the_edge_-_free_world_version.jpg"
target="_blank">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:On_the_edge_-_free_world_version.jpg</a><br>
<br>
I mean really? /facepalm<br>
<br>
This is the kind of imagery I have no desire to see on
the front page of Commons. I'm a very liberal person,
but, this makes me not want to even allow my MOTHER to
use Commons. <br>
<br>
#wikilove,<br>
<br>
Sarah<br>
<font color="#888888"> <br>
<br>
<div>--<br>
Wikipedia Regional Ambassador, D.C. Region<br>
Wikipedian-in-Residence, Archives of American Art<br>
<br>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">Sarah
Stierch Consulting</span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">Historical,
cultural & artistic research, advising &
event planning.</span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.sarahstierch.com" style="color:
rgb(39, 153, 128);" target="_blank">http://www.sarahstierch.com/</a></div>
</div>
</font></div>
<br>
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<a moz-do-not-send="true"
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">Wikipedia Regional Ambassador, D.C.
Region<br>
Wikipedian-in-Residence, Archives of American Art<br>
-- <br>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">Sarah Stierch
Consulting</span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">Historical, cultural
& artistic research, advising & event planning.</span></div>
<div><span style="color: rgb(39, 153, 128);">------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div><a href="http://www.sarahstierch.com" style="color: rgb(39,
153, 128);">http://www.sarahstierch.com/</a></div>
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