In the digital information era, Wikipedia plays a central role as global knowledge source. However, taking a closer look its content reveals a significant underrepresentation of women with only 18% of all entries. To increase it, a first Edit-a-thon takes place at ETH Zurich on Tuesday, November 28.
Increased Visibility Wikipedia is the primary destination for millions of people seeking information. The underrepresentation of women has far-reaching effects on the perception of women in society, reinforcing stereotypes. Having more women featured in articles not only signifies equal opportunities but also enables a balanced representation of human knowledge, its contributors, and society.
Innovation Requires Role Models
Female innovators face challenges when their achievements are not adequately recognized. The stories of successful women need to be told to inspire and encourage other women. Wikipedia can play a crucial role by serving as a platform for the dissemination of these stories. Women who have made outstanding contributions in science, technology, and innovation must be visible as role models to pave the way for future generations.
Edit-a-thons as Instruments of Change
Concrete measures are needed to close the existing gap. Edit-a-thons, events where people collaboratively create and edit Wikipedia articles, provide an effective means to correct the imbalance. These events bring people together to work on enhancing the visibility of women on Wikipedia. By participating in the Edit-a-thon, both women and men can actively contribute to shaping the digital landscape of knowledge.
Edit-a-thon at ETH
The Edit-a-thon "For More Visibility on Wikipedia" will take place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. at the ETH Student Project House, Clausiusstrasse 16, 8006 Zurich. It is organized in collaboration with Ringier, the EqualVoice initiative, Wikimedia CH, and the TX Group.
The goal is to expand existing articles about women and create new ones. Texts can be written in any language. Participants can include students, researchers, and individuals interested in writing who are familiar with citing sources. People from outside ETH Zurich are also warmly welcome.
Early registration at external page https://editathon.evenito.site/ is encouraged.
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