Wikimedia Diversity Conference 2013/Documentation/women-edit
Session: Silvia Stieneker // Women edit - from a small local initiative to a nationwide network
[edit]Abstract
[edit]Wikimedia Germany's programme “Women edit“ seeks to encourage women to actively participate in Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikivoyage. In November 2012, a monthly meet-up for women in Berlin who are interested in editing Wikipedia was initiated. It was soon found that many of the participating women are interested in real-life-contacts with experienced Wikiwomen and other female newbie-editors on a regular basis - it was thus decided to transfer the local idea to other places in Germany. The goal is to establish a nationwide network for women editors, who support each other (online and offline) and tell others that contributing is fun.
Starting point / Insights
[edit]- Monthly meetup in Berlin for women (in local computer school for women)
- Open to any woman, can edit whatever they like
- New articles for Wikipedia
- Many minor edits
- New editors for Wikivoyage
- Women come regularly, bring guests
- Media interest
It's a social event, not a class! safe space for women (no male guests, no male teachers). Empowerment!
"Wikiwomen" network
Challenges
[edit]- Find female Wikimedians to offer similar initiatives elsewhere, but it is a challenge
- Fear that if they offer such thing, they are considered feminist
- People are busy! don't have time, have jobs (and maybe "jobs" within Wikimedia too, like being admins)
- Believe gender is not an important category and such efforts are not so effective (or "absolutely useless")
- Some people do not want to cooperate with German chapter
Ideas
[edit]- German chapter has not organized edit-a-thon yet
- Looking for supporters for the project and idea
- Have partner organizations
- Barcamp and coffee party at German Wikicon in November 2013
- January 2014, "Wikiwomen weekend"
- Project page on German Wikipedia
- Facebook group with ~150 members
Questions / Next steps recommendations
[edit]Q: Do you have metrics?
A: Write down user names, some have become regular editors, some not
Q: Do follow up? surveys? more info from attendees?
A: Not yet, maybe next year