Africa Wiki Women
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概要
The Africa Wiki Women initiative is a transformative community effort aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of African women on Wikimedia projects by promoting their growth within and beyond the Wikimedia movement. The initiative ensures that African women's voices, achievements, and perspectives are recognised and represented throughout Wikimedia projects, guided by the principles of inclusivity, impact, and sustainability.
In the context of Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, the narratives and contributions of African women are notably scarce. This lack of representation is part of a broader digital landscape where global internet platforms and content are predominantly shaped by a minority, primarily Western, white, and male. Despite 58% of the global population having internet access, with 75% of these users hailing from the Global South and 45% being women, the digital sphere remains dominated by Western perspectives.
Therefore, the AWW initiative responds to the persistent gender and regional disparities in online knowledge creation. Although internet access continues to expand across Africa, women remain underrepresented both as contributors and as subjects of online content. This imbalance limits the visibility of African women’s histories, innovations, and leadership in the world’s largest free knowledge platform like Wikipedia
To promote inclusivity, Africa Wiki Women provides opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in Wikimedia activities. It supports diverse editors and contributors through mentorship, training, and edit-a-thon which fosters an environment where women feel confident and capable of shaping content and leading different initiatives.
Additionally, Africa Wiki Women conducts impact-driven programs that strengthen the skills and visibility of African women in digital spaces. It organizes training on editing, research, and digital literacy; supports mentorship networks; and encourages participation that highlights women’s contributions across various sectors. These efforts help to improve both the quality and quantity of content about African women on Wikipedia and related platforms.
Unlike the Wiki Loves Women campaign, which focuses on multi-layered international activations to highlight women's voices, the Africa Wiki Women initiative serves as a regional community for African women who identify as Wikimedians. It aims to foster growth and also engage men who support gender equity, educating them on how they can promote and enhance the visibility of female Wikimedians in Africa and globally.
Lastly, sustainability is central to the Africa Wiki Women’s mission. The AWW has built strong community of anglophone and francophone countries and have been building partnerships with different open knowledge communities with the aim of creating lasting systems that support continued participation and leadership of women in the Wikimedia ecosystem.
Understanding the Gender Gap
- Gender Gap in Wikimedia Editors: Women are underrepresented among Wikipedia editors. Potential reasons include perceived neglect of women's interests, cultural norms of the editing community, and potential barriers like tech skills or confidence. Research initiatives like CIS A2K Research: Bridging gender gap and Diversity, equity, and inclusion communications research have explored these challenges further.
- A Broader Digital Context: Predominant internet knowledge and content are produced by a minority (primarily Western, white, male). The design and governance of global internet platforms seldom represent women, people of color, and the Global South. Even though 58% of the global population has internet access, with 75% of online users from the Global South and 45% being women, the digital domain is dominated by perspectives from the Western world.
- Content Representation on Wikipedia: Research can explore the quantity and quality of women-centric articles on Wikipedia. The gender gap among editors may influence the representation of women in the content.
- Community Dynamics within Wikimedia: It's essential to understand the experiences of women within the Wikimedia editing community. This includes interactions with fellow editors, the support or lack thereof that they receive, and obstacles faced in leadership roles. Equitable support measures for women can be identified and promoted to bolster their representation and participation.
- Gender Bias in Wikipedia's Content: Potential biases in the portrayal of genders within articles warrant research. Aspects to consider include the language utilized, representation in traditionally male-centric fields, and the overall impact of such biases on content's quality and veracity.
Partnerships/Collaborations
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