The work and learning practices used in this course for the Wikipedia project created insight into how the axes of oppression against women exist in the digital world as a system that often perpetuates harm. Although I have contributed to Wikipedia edits in another course, the knowledge and understanding regarding context created and edited on Wikipedia in this course, assisted in broadening my understanding of how critical it is to assist in storytelling, articles, and facts. Mainly, contributions from multiple perspectives, not just the hegemonic white cis male normative or “default” in digital spaces are essential to work where marginalized people should take up space to tell their own stories and perspectives. Challenging and critiquing ideas, whether on Wikipedia or beyond, is crucial to assist in social change, allyship, and reification.
Additionally, readings from class developed a thorough understanding of the multiple social locations that women can and do live in every day. Readings from class, along with the Zotero project, highlighted the importance of developing a complex and complete reference section of work that tells the story of information gathering and development. Having multiple sources adds weight to the articles. It also can be supportive of multiple perspectives that are equally important at challenging social normative and creating safe, supportive spaces for women and marginalized communities in the digital world.
