[Gendergap] About Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha the World Brain
Dear Wikipedia Colleagues, I am delighted to let you know that the Catholic organization, Catholic Online, is using Wikipedia's information to detail the life of indigenous, Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th Century woman who lived in North America. She is the first Native American to become a saint. I am delighted that Wikipedia provides informative and factual information to the world about this woman! There are great articles in the news media today about it, many obviously borrowing from Wikipedia to fill in the history. This is a victory for Wikipedia, the World Brain. Read more about: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha... at: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=154 ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Battles battalions
Dear colleagues, Examples like these remind us how important a sense of humor is for successfully remaining and being productive in the grand work of Wikipedia. By the time I got through the series of comments LauraHale asks us to consider, I was again reminded of why I like Wikipedians and why I am outraged by Wikipedians. Gallows humor can set in, but hope is sparked too. Stick with it Laura, you are making headway. There is decent (if exasperating) engagement going on, not bad. Meanwhile, does anybody have an amusing joke to keep the rest of us amicably disposed to the world brain' project? How about an anecdote? I have a little one: Somehow I'd surfed my way into a situation (seemed all male) where an admin (a) had taken to task, threatened, and ultimately exaggerated the sins of a (supposed) Canadian teenager(t) who'd created a segment on a page donning himself the First Lord or Baron of somewhere - something like that. The (a) was not very civil and after I visited the 'lord' page, I believed (a) had taken the facts and got ahead of himself. It was clear to me an exuberant new Wikipedia contributor (t) got deeply into being a lord, and was especially fond of envisioning and detailing lordly regalia, sabre weaponry, and medals to enhance his lordliness. I decided to weigh in and defend (t) suggesting admins needed to take this (obvious youth) with a grain of salt, gently guide the newcomer, helping create an environment where he distinguishes online gaming characters from what really exists, facts vs. fantasy, if you will. Well, I posted to that effect, because I worried the 'lord' (t) would disappear from Wikipedia forever (and it was obvious he showed 'promise'). Other admins got in on it, agreed with me, and the last I knew, they'd taken (a) 'out behind the woodshed.' I thought that reaction harsh too. I likely posted some kindly comments on Virtues. My ideas were defended, not attacked. I surfed off somewhere else... I hope (t) stayed on board, corrected, and survived his first lordly battles... KSRolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] About Jessie Ackermann
Here, here! Let's appreciate this contribution by one of us,in an effort to see to it that women of the world do not have to ... go to the wall in the hard and fierce struggle... of survival. Nice work colleague, writing on the inspiring life work of a lesser known feminist crusader. KSRolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
Re: [Gendergap] WikiWomen's Luncheon at Wikimania
Dear colleagues, I hope someone with survey design experience will be at this event and collect data on how many mothers manage to attend this event. We need to know whether women have adult or young children, and whether they are single parents, their ethnicity, and professional training. This will provide truly useful data, if done scientifically. I can help write an instrument if called upon to do so. Let us not overlook single parent fathers and alternative parents. My hypothesis is that there will be extremely few of any of these. Dads (in some ethnicities) get a social 'bonus' for being parents (increased social status), unlike mothers, so its important to distinguish clearly who is supporting and raising children, not just having parented and kids exist in the world kinds of data. KSRolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Clarification of topics
Dear esteemed colleagues, I'm enjoying the gendergap list, but I'm getting confused about what each message is referring to. It might be good to state your topic instead of using, 'he', 'she', and 'they.' With a few relatively concurrent topics under discussion, which is fine, I want to make sure I am following, without having to go through several days of email strings. It doesn't seem like a bad idea to make that url on your topic available, either. As I scroll down, you lose me, I see no name for the person under discussion and no link either, might be hidden in the list underbrush... I recently referred to Anita S. I don't know her, don't know how she would be contacted, Andreas. I don't know if she contributes to Wikipedia, even. Anyone who might have weighed in without first exploring the nature of her work missed it's essence. Evidence is useful to this forum and its mission. KSRolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Public voice of gendergap
Dear colleagues, There is one reason, and one reason alone, that I have not gotten into the fray about appropriateness of images and some text in Wikipedia. The reason is the discussion ends up on the internet and any search for my name will turn up all the details of everyone's comments. This generates a guilt-by-association situation that can affect real life circumstances that I've already experienced. In discussion with some parents, content added by some, discredits the entire Wikipedia reason-to-exist, and has become 'not-recommended.' As a mother and educator, who has encouraged universities, schools, PTAs, and school districts to embrace Wikipedia, and give students the opportunity to get a feel for ownership and responsible editing, and as a scholar committed to seeking solutions to gender gap issues, I hold the view that some materials are not appropriate. What is not appropriate in schools and libraries has to be something to consider as a measure of acceptability. As a social scientist, it is clear to me cultures vary. There might be considered an Iron Curtain Wikipedia with content that those seeking 'certain topics' could elect to navigate. I'd rather this comment not be attached to any that may follow it, otherwise, I am sidelined from getting into the communication and search for consensus. Thank you, and onward gallant Wikipedians - wherever and whoever you are, KS Rolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] On SF signups for nascent Wikipedia women
On the Women's History Month event in SF and the Bay Area There's a mistaken assumption that new contributors-to-be know how to sign themselves up for this event. Not true. I'm adding those who plan to attend, and they are not yet 'users.' Seems fine, but complete newcomers, no matter how promising, do not know their way around a Wikipedia sign up page. Am getting read for a couple large sends via contact groups, let's see what happens. Who else is doing this? I've mentioned the Clayman and the Borg Institutes. KS Rolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] On Notable Women in Wikipedia
Wikipedia colleagues, I want to work within the accepted range of who rises to the level of notable women. The historical problem of women in the news less, and quoted and cited less, is still an issue. I want to mention an important figure, who may otherwise stay out of the news. Please see her page - Michelle Clayman. While Ms. Clayman is in investments, and for that reason may stay out of the limelight, without her philanthropy at the Clayman Institute for Gender Studies, an amazing body of research may have never happened. The scale is global, and her funding support includes game-changing and paradigm-upending research such as The Motherhood Penalty and a number of projects focused abroad. Ms. Clayman should (NPOV) be noted for providing the framework, funding, and vision to support research on women's struggles. I've gone ahead and marked the page as a Stanford wiki and/or women's history project; links to the Institute and additional activities are a good idea. KS Rolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Hablantes de Castillano o Español?
¿Hay mujeres que hablan español - viviendo en the Bay Area de San Francisco y que les gustaría particpan en la Historia de las Mujeres evento de Wikipedia en marzo? If so, please let me know. ksr ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Women's History Month action plan wiki
See: http://etherpad.wikimedia.org/SFWHM KS Rolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] On Women's History Month
I would make a go of this in the San Francisco Bay Area if we could get some traction going. I'll check in with a couple groups I know of, and see where they stand. Do we have an outreach tool kit ready that can be utilized, and if not, seems like an idea too? KS Rolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Females and underrepresented students coming onboard
Dear Colleagues, I am too busy right now to weigh in on everything I'd like to; I have expertise on gender and diversity, which is why I'm here. I am offering the gendergap list to my Wikipedia class (university) students effective next week, so please anticipate new faces. The greatest concentration will be female, but I am pleased we have a diverse group, ethnically, linguistically, and culturally. Please be kind to our newcomers; we may all make some mistakes while coming to understand Wikipedia's liberties and constraints. I will not assign the list in terms of coursework, but I want (especially female) students to know this forum exists. Some students will have staying power; I see it as a shared privilege to encourage all students demonstrating an inclination to get involved with Wikipedia contributing. Thank you in advance for supporting new subscribers to this list, and the goal of greater gender and diversity equity in Wikipedia. KSRolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
Re: [Gendergap] Gendergap Digest, Vol 7, Issue 8
Dear Colleagues, I'll begin teaching: Anthropology, Wikipedia, and Media at a college beginning soon. The textbook is Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Wikipedia. I chose it because it covers the Wikipedia world in useful ways, was positively reviewed by Mssr. Wales and Ms. Gardner, and it refers back to classical works and ideas, that are useful for gaining a more integrated understanding of how things have come to be. H.G. Wells comes to mind, as do essays mentioned in the text about problems of structurelessness, altruism, and open source, generally. Because we are taking an anthropological approach, we'll be aware of gender and diversity issues raised by demographic and other social phenomena, and we'll seek topics, not because they fill a gap, but because students can learn to contribute and feel confident to move forward on their own eventually. I want to know about IRC also. What became of WikiChix? I see they met and had lunch this year... I'm interested in corresponding with any other scholars who are teaching Wikipedia to teens and adults. I am in touch with local Ambassadors. KS___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
[Gendergap] Dominique_Strauss-Kahn_sexual_assault_case
Dear Colleagues, RE: Dominique_Strauss-Kahn_sexual_assault_case The title of this page needs neutrality; for example, it could read: Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Resigns IMF Leadership Amid Sexual Assault Charges I agree there must be presumed innocence written into the semantics, but would not want to see the victim-apparent's charges of guilt minimized either. I will not post this, but invite feedback. The alleged victim, said to be 32 years old and widowed, was reported by National Public Radio and ABC World News, to be a Muslim who came to the U.S. on an asylum visa. The same news agencies, who interviewed neighbors of the alleged victim, reported she wears a head scarf. If these reports are accurate, this may complicate reporting abroad, given the fact that under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France banned appearing publicly in the niqab and burka, full-face veiling and garments worn by some traditional Muslim women. In the Arab world, ightisab, or rape, is an abomination to be reported, and if there is sufficient evidence against a perpetrator, hadd may be the punishment. Muslim rape victims regain purity by ritual, are able to come forward, be seen, heard, and treated kindly (and without deprecation) when they've voiced rape charges. Some Quranic scholars interpret rape as a crime more serious than murder. Using Reuters photos, l'affaire DSK broadened and spread into international publications including reports that Mssr. Strauss-Kahn had troubled relations with des call-girls in Manhattan. Other charges appeared; a maid in Mexico was said to have had a similar encounter with DSK but never reported it for fear of public disgrace. From France, the daughter of a Strauss-Kahn personal and professional associate also described inappropriate advances some years ago. Mssr. Strauss-Kahn was seen as so powerful that charges against him would ultimately be fruitless. His alleged victim in Manhattan is said to have faith that a U.S. trial will justly prove his guilt in spite of Mssr. Strauss-Kahn's worldly influence. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/18/136412953/after-complaint-imf-chief-s-arrest-was-swift http://abcnews.go.com/US/dominique-strauss-kahn-sex-case-alleged-victims-lawyer/story?id=13627104 For a lesson (scroll down) on the several kinds of head-coverings considered appropriate by (some) Muslim women, please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10611398 ksrolph ___ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap
Re: [Gendergap] Gendergap Digest, Vol 4, Issue 17
Dear Colleagues, 1) Clarification: I am teaching students how to edit and author in Wikipedia. Topical suggestions for a methodology are welcome. 2) On motherhood: it depends on whether referring to the global situation, or U.S. This argument is extensive, and in most responses, symptomatic of the problem. Mothers, especially single mothers and children, are vulnerable populations under numerous social criteria. Mothers who don't hold a job and have nannies are relatively few; they may still suffer from lack of 'voice'. Again, concrete data are the most useful for understanding gaps and constraints mothers face. ksrolph From: gendergap-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: Gendergap Digest, Vol 4, Issue 17 To: gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 05:40:25 + Send Gendergap mailing list submissions to gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to gendergap-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org You can reach the person managing the list at gendergap-ow...@lists.wikimedia.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of Gendergap digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: [Commons-l] Fwd: Photo of the Day on, Wikimedia Commons (The Richardsons) 2. Fwd: Photo of the Day on Wikimedia Commons (Bob Sponge) 3. Women's College Video Project on Commons Media of the Day (Pharos) 4. Re: Fwd: Photo of the Day on Wikimedia Commons (Sarah) 5. Re: Gendergap Digest, Vol 4, Issue 16 (Karen Sue Rolph) -- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 21:26:53 -0400 From: The Richardsons dons...@optonline.net Subject: Re: [Gendergap] [Commons-l] Fwd: Photo of the Day on, Wikimedia Commons To: gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org Message-ID: 4dd714dd.2000...@optonline.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Message: 7 Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 10:37:41 -0600 (MDT) From: Fred Bauderfredb...@fairpoint.net Subject: Re: [Gendergap] [Commons-l] Fwd: Photo of the Day on Wikimedia Commons To: Increasing female participation in Wikimedia projects gendergap@lists.wikimedia.org Message-ID: 44058.66.243.192.69.1305736661.squir...@webmail.fairpoint.net Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 10:16, Fred Bauderfredb...@fairpoint.net wrote: My point is this: a significant number of women (current and potential editors) don't want to work in a I like the big tits atmosphere, whatever was meant by it. Others don't mind. Point is that some*do* mind. So, was it an inane remark or a symptom of an atmosphere? I'm pretty sure you don't want to see an authoritarian crackdown either. We come down heavy on Wikipedia sometimes, but for much more egregious behavior. The problem is that such moves don't change culture, in fact, may sometimes facilitate it, if traction can be gained by aggrieved users who feel they are being treated unfairly. I see it as an inane remark that's symptomatic of the culture, in the sense that the poster thought it appropriate to post it. Moving away from discussing this image now, to the broader issue, we do see a fair number of comments like that on Wikipedia, and letting them pass without comment simply means they'll never stop. We had a situation recently where we were discussing a BLP, and part of the content was that the woman had experienced a serious sexual assault. In the course of discussing how to approach it, a couple of remarks were made that tended to downplay what had happened to her, and one person -- in a different section on the talk page -- commented on how attractive she was, and how he wanted to have her babies. I was so disgusted by this that I felt (and to some extent still feel) that I didn't want to be involved in the project anymore, because why am I wasting my time in that kind of atmosphere? I felt that it said something about me, rather than about them. I also had to decide whether to say something, or let it lie, and if I did say something, I had to make sure I was polite and circumspect, rather than screaming it from the rooftops, which is what I wanted to do. And it suddenly felt like nothing had changed in the last 40 years, that these remarks still appear, and that women are still made to feel bad if they challenge them. And if we do challenge them, must be extra polite about it. Not make a fuss. So that felt kind of depressing. Sarah Now we're getting down to a serious discussion. The actual horns of the dilemma
