“Women in Red” researched-based argument essay
Feminist theory is a broad framework that examines how gender shapes social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics, often with a focus on advocating for gender equality and challenging existing power structures. It includes different views such as Marxist feminism which explores how capitalism and patriarchy work together to keep women oppressed. Its basis is that women’s work, especially unpaid domestic work, helps capitalism by keeping labor costs low. “They believe that the traditional role of the
housewife- who does not have paid employment and resides in the home completing domestic tasks- supports capitalism” (Guy-Evans). At its core, feminist theory seeks to understand and address the oppression and marginalization of women. Along with exploring how gender intersects with other forms of identity such as race, class, sexuality, and disability.
A key example of the Marginalization of women can easily be seen on the platform Wikipedia. When addressing the lack of representation of women on Wikipedia, feminist theory highlights the underlying power dynamics and structural barriers that contribute to this problem. Wikipedia’s editorship is largely male-dominated and the culture within the platform creates an unfriendly environment towards women, discouraging their participation. “Some information on this has suggested that as many as 90% of Wikipedia’s editors are male” (Wikipedia). Moreover, the content gaps and biases present on Wikipedia reflect societal inequalities, where women’s contributions and achievements are often overlooked or undervalued. Feminist activists argue that addressing the lack of representation of women on Wikipedia requires changes on the front and editorial ends of Wikipedia to improve diversity and inclusivity within the editing community.
This issue led to the creation of the “Women in Red” project on Wikipedia. A Wikipedia project that aims to address the gender gap on Wikipedia by creating new articles. The project focuses on increasing the representation of women on Wikipedia, particularly in areas where they are underrepresented, such as biographies of women, women’s history, and women’s achievements in various fields. Editors work together in the Women in Red project to make sure Wikipedia includes more about women’s contributions and experiences from different times and places. “The big problem is that the current Wikipedia community is what came about by letting things develop naturally. Trying to influence it in another direction is no longer the easiest path, and requires conscious effort to change” (Cohen)
The Women in Red project’s focus sheds light on the issue: the scarcity of information about women on Wikipedia. Despite the significant contributions of women throughout history and their life stories often remain underrepresented or absent from Wikipedia. This raises certain questions about the factors contributing to this informational gap. Is it due to historical biases that have marginalized women’s achievements? Are there barriers outside of biases that hinder the documentation of women’s lives and work? Exploring these questions not only reveals the challenges faced by women in gaining recognition but also how undervalued the efforts from Wikipedia users to rectify this imbalance, through initiatives such as the Women in Red Project. To address these questions, we delve into both the broader scope and the specific context of the Women in Red project. Focusing on the life of one individual associated with the project, Vivian Ramón Pita, a Cuban chess player, reveals an initial absence of a dedicated Wikipedia page, as indicated by her status as a red link. Research into her life and achievements prompted a consideration of why she lacked a presence on Wikipedia. Three primary factors come to light. Firstly, the language barrier limits the recognition or coverage of her English-language sources. Secondly, gender /cultural bias, potentially coming from Wikipedia editors or Cuban societal norms, may have played a role. Lastly, the lack of reliable sources documenting Vivian Ramón Pita’s life and achievements further push her exclusion from the platform.
Before researching Vivian Ramón Pita, let us first understand the broader focus of the Women in Red project. In prior personal experiences with the Wikipedia platform, one of the most striking aspects observed on the front of Wikipedia is the extensive list of women from the project. Notably, many of these women are listed under the “Red list” from notable professions such as surgeons, businesswomen, activists, and athletes. Surprisingly, despite their significant achievements and contributions, many of these women do not have dedicated Wikipedia pages or even a small blurb providing information about them.
Examining Wikipedia’s inner workings, especially its editing and discussion sectors, is crucial for understanding the platform’s gender gap. A comparison between the discussion pages of a male and female chess player revealed evident differences. The discussion page of Judit Polgár (one of the best female chess players) included efforts to discredit certain claims, particularly concerning her victory over Garry Kasparov. Some users questioned and critiqued Polgár’s overall impact and presence in the chess scene.
While examining Garry Kasparov’s (Best Male Chess Player) discussion page it displayed a few issues, inaccuracies, or criticism of his playing career. This marked difference in the tone and content of discussions suggests an inequality in the scrutiny and critique faced by male and female chess players on Wikipedia. Reflecting deeper societal biases and perceptions within Wikipedia editorship and even inside the chess scene.
Before researching Vivian Ramón Pita’s career and life, she was listed among hundreds of other women on the Women in Red list or those with a red link next to their name on Wikipedia, indicating the absence of a dedicated page for them. However, unlike many others, Vivian Ramón Pita had a Wikipedia page on the Spanish side of Wikipedia. This page contained a brief blurb about her life and covered her career in just two lines of text. The presence on the Spanish Wikipedia side hinted at the potential for more extensive coverage of her accomplishments and contributions.
While researching Vivian Ramón Pita’s life, a clear factor that limits coverage of her achievements on Wikipedia is language barriers. Coming from Havana Cuba, much of the coverage surrounding her, including news articles, journals, chess games, and citations, is in Spanish. This linguistic divide poses a significant challenge in accurately documenting her life and contributions on a platform such as Wikipedia which is predominantly in English. The absence of English-language sources hurts the accessibility of information about Vivian Ramón Pita’s life for Wikipedia editors who primarily engage with content in English.
As mentioned earlier, the presence of gender bias within Wikipedia, particularly concerning female chess players, is evident. This gender bias prevents the coverage of Vivian Ramón Pita, who is a prominent figure in the Cuban chess scene and holds the prestigious title of Women’s Grandmaster. Despite her significant contributions and achievements within the chess community, she remained unknown on Wikipedia before this investigation. Moreover, alongside gender bias, there exists a cultural bias stemming from her Cuban background. In Cuba, as in many societies, gender bias takes various forms, impacting women’s access to opportunities and representation in various spheres of life.
Despite strides made in gender equality efforts following the introduction of Marxist feminist theory during the Cuban revolution, certain cultural and societal norms persist, hindering progress. In Cuba, traditional gender roles often assign women to domestic duties and caregiving responsibilities, which can limit their participation in the workforce and leadership roles. As noted on Wikipedia’s page Women in Cuba, “Traditional gender roles in Cuba have historically oppressed women, confining them to domestic spheres and limiting their opportunities for advancement in education and employment.” (Wikipedia).
Ultimately, despite the availability of information from diverse sources about Vivian Ramón Pita’s life and chess career, the primary obstacle to creating her Wikipedia pages is the absence of reliable sources. While information about her can be found in Spanish and Cuban news outlets, as well as various websites from Cuba, the credibility of these sources is often uncertain. Many of these sources come from obscure or sketchy websites, making it challenging to verify the accuracy of the information they provide. Consequently, the lack of credibility from reliable outlets creates uncertainty surrounding the information about her, complicating the development of a Wikipedia page. For this research, primarily credible and personal interviews with her were utilized to construct her Wikipedia page.
Exploring the pervasive gender gap on Wikipedia, this essay delves into a comprehensive examination of various articles addressing the underrepresentation of women on the platform. Each source offers unique insights into the factors contributing to this gap and proposes strategies to address it.
The Wikipedia article “Women in Cuba” offers insights into the status and roles of women in Cuban society post-revolution, highlighting advancements in various fields alongside persisting challenges like gender-based violence and underrepresentation in leadership. As a reliable source supported by citations from reputable sources, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding the state of women’s roles in Cuban culture, particularly relevant for examining influences such as Marxism and feminism in the context of Vivian Ramón Pita. (Wikipedia).
The article from “Simply Psychology” provides a concise overview of Marxist feminist theory, emphasizing the collaboration between capitalism and patriarchy to oppress women through cheap labor and traditional gender roles. The credibility of “Simply Psychology” as a reputable educational website enhances the reliability of the information presented, serving as a valuable resource for understanding complex concepts. This overview of Marxist feminism theory is particularly relevant for examining its potential impact on the “Women in Red” project, especially in the context of Cuba, which promotes this theory, offering insight into how gender dynamics intersect with broader societal structures (Guy-Evans).
The New York Times article delves into the factors contributing to the gender gap on Wikipedia, citing the online culture of the platform as potentially unwelcoming to women and the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, which are frequently covered topics on Wikipedia. As one of the most respected newspapers globally, The New York Times provides a credible source for understanding the gender gap issue on Wikipedia. This article serves as an important reference point for discussing and addressing the gender disparity in Wikipedia’s content and contributor base (Cohen).
The Wikipedia article “Gender Bias and Editing on Wikipedia.” examines how the gender gap among Wikipedia editors influences the platform’s content, resulting in lacking representation of topics related to women and gender issues. It discusses initiatives aimed at recruiting more female editors and creating a more inclusive editing environment. As Wikipedia itself is widely regarded as a reliable source of information, especially in summarizing existing knowledge and providing citations to reputable sources, this article serves as a crucial reference for understanding and addressing gender bias on the platform. It offers valuable insights and evidence to support arguments about the importance of gender diversity in Wikipedia’s editing community and content coverage (Wikipedia).
The exploration into the Women in Red project has shed light on a multitude of challenges faced by women like Vivian Ramón Pita in achieving recognition on Wikipedia. Through the lens of Vivian’s experience as a Cuban chess player, we have identified significant barriers, including language constraints, gender bias, and a scarcity of reliable sources. These obstacles not only hinder Vivian’s representation but also reflect broader issues of gender inequality and cultural biases within Wikipedia’s editing community and culture. Initiatives like the Women in Red project play a crucial role in amplifying the voices and contributions of women like Vivian, ultimately working towards a more inclusive and representative online encyclopedia. By confronting these barriers head-on and advocating for systemic change, a strive towards a Wikipedia that accurately reflects the diversity, inclusion, and richness of human experiences.