“Wikipedia Needs More Women” Campaign
The Wikimedia Foundation, the organization behind Wikipedia, has launched its “Wikipedia Needs More Women” campaign on International Women’s Day to recognize efforts worldwide, including in India, aimed at enhancing gender equity on Wikimedia projects.
Celebrating International Women’s Day, the Wikimedia Foundation acknowledges endeavors in India to promote gender equity on Wikipedia. The newly initiated “Wikipedia Needs More Women” campaign highlights ongoing endeavors to close gender knowledge gaps and acknowledges volunteers involved in this work, urging collective action to foster gender diversity on Wikimedia projects.’
Call to Action for Gender Equity by Wikimedia
Emphasizing the importance of addressing the gender gap online, the campaign invites participation from individuals to enhance gender equity on Wikipedia and beyond. According to a statement from the Wikimedia Foundation, Indians are actively contributing to narrowing the gender gap and improving knowledge representation on Wikipedia.
India, being one of the top contributors to Wikipedia, hosts a significant number of page views and content contributors. The country has been actively involved in initiatives to increase equitable engagement and representation on Wikimedia projects, with substantial efforts focused on bridging the gender gap.
WikiWomen Camp 2023 Declaration
The declaration made during the WikiWomen Camp 2023 in Delhi-NCR outlines strategic approaches toward achieving gender equity on Wikimedia projects, reflecting a collaborative effort involving volunteers from various countries.
Various initiatives, including edit-a-thons and collaborative projects, have been instrumental in enhancing gender-related content on Wikimedia projects in India. Since 2021, there has been a notable increase in content related to women on Wikipedia, indicating progress in addressing the gender gap.
Acknowledging Contributions at Wikimedia
Masana Mulaudzi, Senior Manager of Campaign Organizing at the Wikimedia Foundation, commended India’s progress in improving gender equity on Wikipedia, stressing the importance of diverse representation on the platform.
Anusha Alikhan, Chief Communications Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, emphasized the significance of the “Wikipedia Needs More Women” campaign as a call to action for everyone to contribute to closing knowledge gaps on Wikipedia.
The campaign encourages participation through various avenues, including attending events for Women’s History Month and joining the “Celebrate Women” campaign, which invites editors of all levels to improve Wikipedia articles about notable women.
Addressing the Gender Gap
While Wikipedia relies on volunteer contributors adhering to editorial standards, the gender gap persists due to historical biases and underrepresentation of women in traditional sources of knowledge, highlighting the importance of initiatives like “Wikipedia Needs More Women” in addressing this issue.
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