User:Funcrunch/Wikiconference 2016 abstract draft

Title

The Transgender Gap: Trans and non-binary representation on Wikipedia

Theme

Community

Academic Peer Review option

No

Type of submission

Presentation

Author

Pax Ahimsa Gethen

E-mail address

Username

Funcrunch

Affiliation

None

Abstract

The gender gap and content gender gap - the dearth of female editors and women-focused content on the English Wikipedia - have been the subjects of much documentation and debate. When addressing these discrepancies, we also need to address representation of transgender women and men, as well as people with non-binary gender identities such as agender, bigender, and genderqueer.

While the "transgender tipping point" has brought more public awareness of transgender people, mainstream narratives are shaped by cisgender (non-transgender) people. Trans and non-binary people can be discouraged from editing on Wikipedia by frequent disruptive editing and vandalism of gender-related pages, as well as unclear policies on deadnaming and correct gendering of trans people in articles. Cisgender voices dominate debates on these issues, with accusations of bias and political correctness. This creates an unwelcoming environment for trans participation.

The prominence of Wikipedia articles in search engine results means that many people learn about transgender issues through Wikipedia, so it is imperative that this information be as accurate and respectful as possible. To address the transgender gap, more understanding of trans and non-binary identities is needed. This presentation will provide a brief overview of these identities, show examples of disruptive editing and debates over trans issues, and suggest options for improving the experience of trans editors and coverage of issues that concern us.

Length of presentation

30 min

Special schedule requests

Computer with Internet connection, projector, screen

Preferred room size

100

Will you attend WikiConference North America if your submission is not accepted?

Probably