Week10 -- Class Activity -- GUAN YUE
1. Summary
While browsing the Wikimedia event pages for class this week, I came across something called the “Gender Gap Edit-a-thon.” At first I was just curious what it meant, but the more I looked into it, the more interesting it seemed. It turns out that this is a kind of editing event where people work on creating or improving Wikipedia articles about women, gender-related topics, or underrepresented communities. I always thought Wikipedia editing was mostly technical, but this made me realize it can also be something meaningful on a social level.
I even searched for a few women scientists and artists, and found that some of them barely had pages—or didn’t have one at all. That’s when I understood: editing isn’t just about adding facts, it’s also about fixing imbalance. I haven’t joined an edit-a-thon like this yet, but I’d really like to try. It feels less like just “contributing knowledge” and more like helping people be seen.
2. New Things I Learned
Before this, I thought editing Wikipedia was mostly about fixing sentences or adding sources. But edit-a-thons like these are group activities with a theme. Many events even offer help for beginners, like short workshops or mentoring. That made me realize Wikipedia isn’t just a place that reflects what’s already known—it can also push us to rethink what’s missing.
I was surprised to see how global the movement is. There are events not only in the U.S. or Europe, but also in countries like India, Argentina, and Nigeria. And it’s not just about “adding more women,” but also about realizing that knowledge itself can be biased. Editing, in this case, is about taking part in fixing that bias.
3. Question for Discussion
One thing I’m thinking about is: can events like this be a better starting point for newcomers? When I first signed up, I felt like I didn’t know enough to contribute—like I had to be an expert or write perfectly. But these kinds of editing events feel more open and welcoming. If Wikipedia promoted events like this more clearly to new users—like how the “editing challenges” are featured—I think more people might feel confident enough to try editing.
I haven’t found any local events like this yet, but I’ll keep looking.
What you said about “helping overlooked people be seen” really hit me—I think that’s exactly what makes editing these kinds of articles so meaningful. I felt the same way when you mentioned women scientists and artists who don’t even have pages. It’s not that they haven’t achieved anything, it’s just that no one has written about them yet.
ReplyDeleteHi Guan Yue,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your reflection this week! I think you did a great job connecting the “Gender Gap Edit-a-thon” with broader social issues like representation and bias in knowledge. Your realization that editing isn’t just about fixing grammar but also about “helping people be seen” was really powerful.
One constructive suggestion I’d like to offer is to consider adding a bit more about how you might personally take action in the future—maybe mentioning one specific person or topic you’d be interested in editing. That could help turn your thoughtful observations into a clear next step, and also inspire readers to consider what they might do themselves. Even a small plan could make your post feel more active and motivating.
Looking forward to seeing what you do next!