Engaging with Wikipedia over the course of a week was a revealing experience, giving an understanding of how the website works and how its community interacts. Initially, creating an account was a quick and straightforward process, removing my prior beliefs about it being a strict process. The accessibility brought a better sense of participation and gave me the excitement to contribute to the site since I was previously cautioned about it. As I began to use Wikipedia, I encountered features like the Main Page and the Talk pages, which displayed how users work together to create content and communicate openly with each other. Exploring articles on gender bias showcasing the careful work of contributors to back up their edits with trustworthy sources, questioning assumptions about Wikipedia’s credibility.
However, navigating the Wikipedia Adventure game was frustrating since there were technical glitches, showing potential accessibility troubles for new users. Besides this setback, introducing myself to articles like “Abortion Law” and “Abortion” exposed arguments on sensitive themes. Comments within the Talk sections revealed stubborn conflicts and ignorance, underscoring the need for respectful dialogue and increased awareness of such points. In addition, exploring the “Women in Red” list accentuated the variety of important figures but also showed gaps in information and representation, especially for less-known individuals. Despite these challenges, actively editing articles, such as correcting minor grammar mistakes in the biography of a Mexican actress “La Flaca,” provided a useful way to learn and participate. This hands-on experience made me more comfortable and confident in using Wikipedia’s editing steps, showing how it can be a place for people to work together and share knowledge.
The Wikipedia article, “Abortion Law” delivers an extensive overview of the legal details surrounding abortion in different countries around the world. It covers a wide variety of topics like the history of abortion laws, its legal status, arguments on it, and its developments over time. The page speaks about the diverse methods taken by different countries, from those with constraining abortion laws to those where it is more accessible, and even considered a necessary right. Within the Talk page, there was a lot of confusion about abortion laws and there were some undertones of misogynistic comments. People within these comments were saying how pregnancy is healthier than an abortion, while others argued that pregnancy could be seven times as dangerous as an abortion. It was a very controversial topic as many people were having disagreements and you could see the differences in standpoints. It also talks of key factors controlling abortion laws such as cultural, religious, and political beliefs, as well as medical advancements and the women’s rights movements. Likewise, the page touches upon the implications of legal restrictions on abortion, including its effect on the rights of women and public health.
In response to the transforming nature of laws on abortion, Wikipedia writing serves as a treasured resource for individuals investigating the global scale of abortion policies. By presenting information in a non-biased and comprehensive manner, it allows readers to gain insight into differing approaches surrounding this ongoing problem. Further on, this page facilitates discussions and discourses on the topic, giving access to many case studies and historical contexts. The Wikipedia proportion about abortion laws is clear and informative when understanding how abortion is regulated globally, by covering various topics and different points of view. It helps readers grasp the deep nature of abortion laws. Overall, the Wikipedia information on abortion law not only educates but encourages critical thinking around a highly debated issue in today’s society.
A similar publication, “Abortion,” the Wikipedia page on abortion offers a lot of information on the controversial topic. It covers historical, legal, ethical, and religious areas of the subject. The reading provides information on the different types of methods of abortion, its prevalence worldwide, and the factors shaping public opinions and policy decisions. Additionally, it discusses the dispute between pro-choice and pro-life advocates, highlighting key arguments coming from both sides. Within the comments of the Talk page, users were aggressive when explaining their perspective on the context of the composition. People took some matters as a joke, and others tried to make it seem like it was an unimportant topic to converse about, and this triggered others. It projected a lot of ignorance amongst sensitive topics, and proved there isn’t enough attention brought to abortion matters as much as there should be. The site also releases the socio-political implications of abortion, such as its impact on women’s rights, healthcare systems, and cultural norms towards sexuality and reproduction.
The article is helpful for anyone wanting to understand the complex aspects of abortion. The neutral tone lets readers explore a lot of viewpoints and acquire recognition of the factors molding the abortion discourse globally. However, just as with any other Wikipedia page, Wikipedians should approach the information critically and verify facts from reputable sources, as the content may be biased and inaccurate because of the collaborative works of Wikipedia editing. Nonetheless, the page effectively captures the complexities and controversies surrounding abortion, making it a useful starting point for further research and discussion on this important topic.
Prior to conducting research, Wikipedia’s representation of Lily Brick could not be considered extensive. It was rather tough finding information on her until I finally found a brief document about her. This reflected the common pattern of overlooked or marginalized artists, particularly those who are upcoming, female, or receive inadequate media attention. As an emerging figure with a unique background in Catalan culture, Brick’s presence on Wikipedia has been very minimal, with limited information available about her life, artistry, and contributions to the art industry. The combination of factors such as language barriers, limited media exposure, and a lack of awareness among Wikipedia editors may have influenced the sparse coverage of Brick’s work on the platform, highlighting the broader challenges of equitable representation within online spaces like Wikipedia.
Lily Brick, born Mireia Serra i Bernadó in 1990, is highly talented in today’s art world, and expressive through her innovative ideas and meaningful intellect. She took on her artist name, Lily Brick, in honor of Lília Brick, a Russian artist (Wikipedia foundation). What sets Brick apart from her artistic peers is not only her technical skill or taste but also her dedication to utilizing art for social critique and self-reflection. After each brushstroke or sculptural form, she confronts compelling societal issues through a unique mix of sensitivity and courage, challenging viewers to tackle their own preconceptions and biases. Her artistic creations stand as evidence of art’s lasting impact on provoking thought, emotion, and change, earning a dedicated fan base and praise from critics. In an era defined by the uncertainty of fame, Brick’s art shines as a guiding light of inspiration and wisdom, reminding us of the potential of human creativity in all its forms.
Mireia Serra i Bernadó’s early life in Lleida, Spain, deeply immersed in its vibrant cultural scene Raised in a family that valued creativity and intellectual inquiry, she was exposed to a pluralistic amount of artistic influences from a young age. As a child, Serra i Bernadó displayed a talent for drawing and painting, sketching her surroundings, and experimenting with colors and forms. Instead of losing her love for painting, it has stuck with her from childhood to her adult life, continuing to amplify (Brick). During her early years, she was endlessly curious and driven to explore new creative paths, shaping the unique style that defined her later work. Not only does she produce eye-pleasing paintings, but fills them with personal emotions communicating a message to her viewers. This visual expression is meant to be shared with the world. Surrounded by the vibrant energy of Spain’s streets, Serra i Bernadó absorbed the city’s spirit and channeled it into the essence of her artistic practice.
“Thanks to my capacity for exhaustive work, added to my perpetual curiosity and desire to learn, as well as my perseverance to achieve my goals, I have been able to carve out my professional career. By creating so many murals and working so hard, I have acquired the necessary experience to grow and rectify my mistakes.” (Brick and Rockman). Lily Brick exhibits her willingness to put in effort and dedication to tasks, indicating a lifelong commitment to seeking new experiences, which can be valuable for personal and professional growth. She only continues to learn from her journey, including her mistakes, and has used these lessons to progress in her career. Her artwork has been showcased in the exhibition “Urban Art: from the Street to the Museum,” and she has painted many powerful pieces in tribute to communities around the world such as from towns in Asia and to people with Breast cancer. Brick’s rise to fame in the art world is well-documented through numerous exhibition catalogs, reviews, and interviews.
“Men and women should be politically, economically, and socially equal and this theory does not subscribe to differences or similarities between men, nor does it refer to excluding men or only furthering women’s causes.” (Roe and Egbert). Fundamentally, feminist theory seeks to challenge and take apart systems that produce oppression and discrimination based on gender, advocate for gender equality, and push for women’s empowerment. Feminist theorists analyze the ways in which power structures, cultural norms, and societal institutions perpetuate gender-based inequalities, highlighting the intersections of gender with other forms of injustice such as race, class, sexuality, and disability. Key concepts within feminist theory include chauvinism, the social construction of gender, the correlation, and the importance of amplifying unheard voices to enforce social change. The feminist theory encompasses a versatile range of perceptions to understand and address the social, political, and economic inequalities experienced by females in society.
In the context of Wikipedia’s lack of representation for women, feminist theory equips us with a valuable insight into the hidden factors that come into play. Women have historically been underrepresented in various areas, such as in the media and the arts, leading to an insufficiency of recognition for their work. This underrepresentation impacts media such as Wikipedia, where reports about women are fewer in number and often less detailed compared to those about men. Women in Red (WiR) is a Wikipedia project that aims to address the unjust amount of content on women’s biographies, in hopes of spreading consciousness and amplifying information on females, “the percentage of women’s biographies on the English Wikipedia has reached 19.81% as of 22 April 2024.” (Wikipedia). This disproportion shapes broader societal biases and systemic inequalities, such as gendered norms about what different knowledge and experiences are considered more valuable than others. Additionally, the underrepresentation of women on Wikipedia continues a cycle of the invisibility of women, since the base serves as a well-known source of information for millions of users worldwide. Not only does this undermine the achievements and contributions of women but it also tends to reinforce negative behaviors like gender stereotypes, narrowing the understanding of history and importance of culture. Therefore, addressing the gender gap on Wikipedia is not only a matter of fairness but also a serious step toward creating a more inclusive platform.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a theory examining how societal structures and institutions keep racial inequality alive, emphasizing the overlap of race with other forms of social identity like gender, class, and sexuality (Basic Tenets of Critical Race Theory). Intersectionality, a concept developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw, expands on CRT by illuminating how various aspects of identity connect and shape an individual’s experiences of oppression or privilege (The Urgency of Intersectionality). Lily Brick is an artist known for her thought-provoking performances, where her work often digs deeper into themes of identity, power, and social justice. Intersectionality becomes especially important as Lily Brick navigates her experiences as a Hispanic woman within the art world, where both race and gender components direct how her work is received and valued. Her art serves as a foundation to challenge and counter dominant narratives and showcase the complexities of experiences when crossing between race, gender, and other social aspects. This invites the viewers of her work to create their own biases and engage critically with issues of systemic injustice.
Another significant outlook to consider is viewing from a Marxist theory point of view. Marxist theory, deriving from the writings of Karl Marx, studies the interactions of capitalist societies, focusing on the exploitation of labor by capitalist-level people. Marxist feminism builds onto this theory by adding an examination of gender oppression to the larger criticism of capitalism. It stresses how capitalism and patriarchy interlock to prolong the inferiority of women within both the economic and social environments. Marxist feminists say that women’s suppression is a fundamental part of capitalism, not just a side effect. Women’s unpaid work at home used to help support the workforce, but now that they work for pay, they often face unfair treatment and low wages (Marxist and Socialist Feminism). Marxist feminism believes that to create a fairer society, we need to fight against both capitalism and the unequal treatment of genders.
Gender bias within Wikipedia’s site of knowledge and from some users on the website has been extensively documented and acknowledged. As discussed previously, studies have revealed systemic biases resulting in the misrepresentation of women as well as gender-related topics on the internet base. Notably, Wikipedia’s editing community is predominantly male, which can show a sway in the coverage of articles to display gender imbalances in the encyclopedia’s content. Moreover, because of gender biases in what are considered important sources and notable achievements, Wikipedia often leaves out significant women and the accomplishments they have achieved. This makes the gap between what has been documented about men and women even more distant. Despite the efforts to address these biases, variances continue, underscoring the need for ongoing awareness and preventive measures to ensure gender equity within Wikipedia.
Concerning the Wikipedia webpage for Lily Brick, a Woman in Red, the lack of full information can result from several factors. As a relatively new figure in the art industry, she might not have received widespread media coverage or even have been acknowledged beyond specific communities. Furthermore, coming from a Catalan and Spaniard background, language barriers could be preventing the extent of her work, particularly within English language sources that are commonly used as references throughout Wikipedia. On top of that, the limited awareness of Lily Brick’s art among Wikipedia editors may pitch into why there is scarce information available on her publication, as fewer users and writers may be familiar with her work, affecting motivation to elaborate on her piece. These converging factors underscore the misrepresentation of women on Wikipedia and put a spotlight on the importance of not only addressing gender bias but also tackling other systemic obstacles in order to make knowledge dissemination on Wikipedia broader and encompassing.
Ultimately, the scarcity of research on Lily Brick’s Wikipedia page can be due to several factors, including limited media exposure, potential language barriers from her background, and a lack of awareness among Wikipedia editors about her work. These elements collectively contributed to the underrepresentation of her life, art, and achievements. This idea also applies to a bigger discussion about how information is shared and how people and topics are shown on Wikipedia. Basically, the more well-known and easy to find something or someone is, the more information there tends to be about them. As a takeaway, this emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with places like Wikipedia to ensure diverse voices are adequately represented. By filling in missing information and questioning prejudices, users can create a more welcoming and complete collection of knowledge for the generations to come.