Fighting Sexism on Wikipedia [MASHABLE ORIGINALS]

Introduction to Wikipedia and Personal Experiences

Early Involvement with Wikipedia

• The speaker joined Wikipedia shortly before turning 13, initially using a pseudonym.

• They received their first death threat at the age of 13, highlighting early exposure to online hostility.

Reflections on Naivety and Bravery

• The speaker reflects on whether their actions were brave or naive, believing they would remain anonymous as a middle schooler.

Contributions to Women's History

Founding Wiki Project Women in Red

• The speaker founded Wiki Project Women in Red, aimed at creating articles about women’s biographies and contributions.

• This project addresses systemic historical omissions of women due to existing structures that favor male narratives.

Reliance on Historians

• Wikipedia is described as a tertiary source; original research cannot be published unless previously documented by historians.

Challenges Faced by Contributors

Retaliation Against Non-Normative Contributions

• The speaker recounts an incident where an editor used a threatening image in retaliation for disagreement over content changes.

Gendered Harassment in Editing

• Contributors outside the "white man norm" often face harassment, questioning of competence, and personal attacks during disputes.

Systemic Issues within Wikipedia

Bureaucratic Challenges

• The evolution from five rules to thousands of pages of policy illustrates how bureaucracy complicates content creation on Wikipedia.

Intersectionality of Exclusion

• Systemic issues such as racism, sexism, and classism intertwine to hinder the retention of articles about women and marginalized groups.

Historical Omissions and Feminist Agenda

Disparity in Article Representation

• Notable figures like women scientists are often overlooked while trivial topics receive extensive coverage (e.g., every episode of The Simpsons has its own article).

Advocacy for Inclusive Knowledge

• The speaker acknowledges accusations of having a feminist agenda but emphasizes the importance of free knowledge representation.