Wikipedia is the world’s sixth most popular website, but it has a gender problem.
More than 90% of Wikipedia’s editors are male, and content suffers from the bias of its editors.
Some Wikipedia editors are taking matters into their own hands, and “editathons” have been organised around the world to encourage people to come together, learn how to edit articles and contribute content on people and topics that have been ignored.
Maynooth University, supported by the Wikimedia Community Ireland, will host an editathon on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2017. The aim is to add overlooked women and women’s work to Wikipedia.
We all know that anybody in the world can edit Wikipedia, adding new articles, expanding existing ones, correcting facts and getting involved in the discussion behind some Wikipedia articles. But have YOU done it? If you did it already, come and share your knowledge with us. If you didn’t, come and learn with us. On the day, we’ll have experienced wikipedians from the Wikimedia Community Ireland- to guide our steps.
All are welcome, although due to space limitations this event is limited to twenty five editors at one time, no editing experience is necessary and the event is free.
This event is being organised by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Maynooth University (Dr. Susan Giblin and Dr. Brian McKenzie) and the Maynooth University Library, with support from Wikimedia Community Ireland.
Dr. Aphra Kerr, of the MA in Sociology (Internet and Society) will also be present and is encouraging Sociology students to get involved.
Do you have a suggestion for a missing woman on Wikipedia? For suggestions on missing people, details on preparing and setting up an account in advance visit the wikipedia page (where else) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Ireland_wikiwomenIE_Maynooth_University_2017