Wikimedia Diversity Conference 2013/Documentation/women-edit

Session: Silvia Stieneker // Women edit - from a small local initiative to a nationwide network

Abstract

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

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

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

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

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