[Gendergap] Women and Wikipedia by Barbara Fisher

[Sarah Stierch]

Yes, some women have chosen not to make contributions for various 
reasons or lack of interest, we all know that. But, I also won't fall 
for the concept that it's "our fault" (as a woman). I also think it's 
funny that people really do believe women don't have interest in "the 
facts."

Surprises me when female involvement in liberal arts studies are 
growing, for example, check out museum industry - an industry that is 
dominated by women.  The majority of history classes I take are now full 
of women, and women's involvement in the sciences continues to grow as 
well. Again, it really surprises me that people think women aren't in it 
for the facts.

But, perhaps the fact that I don't read studies on that stuff says 
something.  :)

I'd really like to start branching out into the internet and offline 
communities to see what womens thoughts are.  I think we should 
seriously consider interviews or a more experience oriented research 
study about those who identify as females and what their experiences are 
- why and why they don't "do" Wikipedia. I think it'd shed a lot more 
light than numbers and non-sourced quotes. I will gladly assist in 
forming a research team for this.

Feminist "bulldust." Charming!


On 2/4/2011 4:19 PM, Joseph Reagle wrote:
> On Friday, February 04, 2011, Steven Walling wrote:
>> Joseph Reagle's op-ed explains this argument further I think: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/02/02/where-are-the-women-in-wikipedia/open-doesnt-include-everyone
> I think that argument is often implicit, though, I haven't heard it expressed explicitly by any Wikipedians. *But* you can find plenty of examples of this argument explicitly in response to the NYT's article itself.
>
> For example, on the rather huge set of comments on a "anti-genderist" site:
>
>> It makes me happy to know that men are dominating the internet and women have absolutely no excuses. What are they going to do? Silence men to ensure equal representation?
> Or elsewhere:
>
>> The NYT article below sees everything but the obvious in the fact that few women contribute to Wikipedia: That men are more interested in facts and women more interested in socio-emotional relationships. Men and women are the same, you see: Feminist bulldust. The fact that Wikpedia is voluntary and open to all DEMONSTRATES that men and women have inherently different interests. There is no oppressive "patriarchy" refusing to hire them
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Sarah Stierch Consulting
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