Article initially published in the Feminist Tribune (@TFeminista_)
You may think that this statement is somewhat exaggerated. But, if you go to Google (although there are more search engines, this is the most used) and look for the name of someone you want to investigate, you will check that the first entry that appears is from Wikipedia, as long as there is an article of that person, of course. Thus, it seems quite obvious that existing in the free and collaborative encyclopedia is important to ‘exist’, in the abstract. Despite the demonization of this platform that I have been hearing from teachers and journalists for ten years, it is the main place of consultation for millions of people around the world (including them).
Although with its 15 years of life, we can say that it has achieved a great success of growth, the data in relation to our presence on Wikipedia are devastating with a derisory number of biographies of women next to that of men. Although it varies a lot depending on the sector, the truth is that, on average, we do not even reach the 10%. And, too often, many of these biographies show exclusively their family relationships with men who are considered truly relevant. They are their wives, lovers, mothers, daughters or sisters and that is the fact that stands out from their lives.
The data in relation to our presence on Wikipedia are devastating with a derisory number of biographies of women next to that of men
Who tells the story
When it is said that history is written by the victors, it must be remembered that, until relatively recently, it has been men who have been in charge of shaping the transcendent events of humanity: Librarians, historians, documentarians, journalists... In other times women could not contribute to this narrative because they had no access to culture in general. And, although new times are coming, it seems that the dynamics are not changing as quickly as technology itself allows. Although in a tool like Wikipedia anyone can edit, there is only a 13% of editors. A clearly insufficient percentage.
The history of the 21st century is being written in real time. And we need to lose our fear and feel legitimized to write and document. We must organize ourselves so that this progress is systematic and allows us to incorporate more and more voices. Editing in Wikipedia requires a technical knowledge of the tool and a practical one to document in an informed way. But more important than these two aspects is to make us aware that, without our perspective, that of women, the narrative of history will be mutilated, as has always happened.
Without our perspective, that of women, the narrative of history will be mutilated, as has always happened.
Relevance criteria
Another of the problems we face is that, since Wikipedia is a secondary source in which what has already been published is documented, primary sources are needed in which women are made visible. The media, with a macho inertia difficult to break, often hinder this process. Therefore, it is necessary to establish alliances from a feminist consciousness: In this struggle to make ourselves visible, all of us in each of our fields of action are essential.
I don't just want to write about women on Wikipedia with the sole argument that if we don't do it, they're not going to do it. I want to write about you, poets, architects, photographers, journalists, scientists, philosophers, businesswomen, activists, writers, referents and fighters, who were, are and will be, because each and every one of you are relevant, you are essential and make up my own History.
English (UK)