Comments on: Who is Writing Women’s History?

By: Mario Luigi

Mario Luigi — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:56:46 +0000

Are you kidding me?!?
The internet is entirely gender neutral, anyone can pretend to be any gender, age, race etc, and no one can tell.
If wikipedia has less women contributing that is entirely the responsibility of women.

By: Moni

Moni — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:53:07 +0000

Well, there’s no wonder we’re in this state. After all, we can summon up a “beer summit” at the drop of a hat when race is involved; but, we’ve yet to have even the slightest discussion about the cruel and bitter gender-bashing that occurred during the last presidential campaign — particularly that which occurred against Hillary Clinton from within her own party. Until this country sees gender differences (and institutionalized deficits) as a valid issue, and, at least on the same level as race, we’ll continue to work at a deficit.

By: Tess

Tess — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:56:19 +0000

I saw this post first in The New Agenda, for 5/5. One of the reasons I’m pointing that out is to draw attention to the fine comments there following the article, information I’d never seen before.
And google finally did recognize women – on Mothers’ Day. Hmph.

By: Tess

Tess — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:50:45 +0000

Is this The New Agenda article?

By: foxyladi14

foxyladi14 — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:45:42 +0000

great idea in fact.

By: Diana

Diana — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:49:07 +0000

I’d always heard, “History is His(with emphasis on his) Story”. I loved History, it was my favorite subject in school. I wanted to be a Historian, but was discouraged from doing so. I never got below an A. I loved researching. I still do. Like Johnny 5, feed me. I got so much teasing when that movie came out. So much so when my baby sisters, twins wanted a story I read the encyclopedia to them. For their naps and at bedtime every day. They still remember that. We never made it through the whole set. Anyway (before I blah, blah, blah) I am one of the 13% that have contributed. It surprises me to know that we’re such a low percentage of contributors.

By: oowawa

oowawa — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:45:16 +0000

As I understand it, “gender-neutral” as a policy means not favoring one gender over the other–giving both genders equal opportunity and equal compensation. I think this is a worthy goal.

By: Mirlo

Mirlo — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:12:42 +0000

The “discreet” participation of women, especially the not so young ones, may have to do with the cinderella complex.
Kudos to Martha Saxton, very good idea.

By: Swannie

Swannie — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:03:24 +0000

until we have a neutral as a living example of a valid gender .. there will be no such thing as “gender neutrality” What Martha Saxton is doing is a great idea !!

By: oowawa

oowawa — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:38:58 +0000

Hmm – it seems that we have yet another online example where women are not feeling very welcome to share their ideas, their voice and their intellect.

It seems to me that Wikipedia is about as gender-neutral as a site can be. Anyone is welcome to participate. If women are not feeling very welcome, the fault is certainly not with Wikipedia. Having said that, Martha Saxton’s step of requiring writing or revising Wiki articles about “women in history” in her Women’s History classes would seem to be a proactive step to bringing more women into the Wiki process.

Wikipedia is a wonderful idea, and a very useful tool. The more that universities encourage students to participate in the process, the better it will be for everyone.