Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval
This study explores the pervasive gender bias in Wikipedia’s editorial decision-making processes, particularly in the Catalan, Italian, and French editions. It examines how these processes—focused on deliberations and voting—affect the representation of gender diversity. Specifically, it evaluates t...
| Autores: | , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión aceptada para publicación |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
| Repositorio: | Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:recercat.cat:2445/218420 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2445/218420 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Wikis (Informàtica) Estudis de gènere Wikis (Computer science) Gender studies |
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Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrievalMacià, YessicaFernández, LauraFerran Ferrer, NúriaWikis (Informàtica)Estudis de gènereWikis (Computer science)Gender studiesThis study explores the pervasive gender bias in Wikipedia’s editorial decision-making processes, particularly in the Catalan, Italian, and French editions. It examines how these processes—focused on deliberations and voting—affect the representation of gender diversity. Specifically, it evaluates the implications of banning gender-based categories for accessing information, rejecting inclusive language, and the controversial practice of including trans individuals' dead names in biographies. </p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach</strong> </p><p>The research employs a detailed content analysis of arguments presented during nine deliberative and voting processes conducted between 2014 and 2024. A redesigned codebook was utilized to classify and analyze arguments based on their type and stance toward gender inclusion. The study also coded editors' gender identities, where identifiable, to assess patterns of participation and perspectives within these processes. </p><p><strong>Findings</strong> </p><p>The findings reveal a systemic resistance to gender diversity in decision-making processes, predominantly justified through appeals to values, neutrality policies, and community norms. While arguments supporting inclusivity often emphasized ethical considerations, practical reasoning, and precedence, they were insufficient to sway outcomes in favor of gender inclusion. The lack of consensus and resistance perpetuates the invisibility of gender-diverse identities, reinforcing existing inequalities. </p><p><strong>Originality</strong> </p><p>This research uniquely examines Wikipedia’s decision-making infrastructure and its broader implications for knowledge representation. By highlighting the systemic barriers to inclusivity in collaborative knowledge platforms, it contributes to critical discussions on diversity and equity in digital information systems. Emerald Publishing2025202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion29 p.application/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/218420Articles publicats en revistes (Biblioteconomia, Documentació i Comunicació Audiovisual)reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunyainstname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)InglésVersió postprint del document publicat a:Data Technologies and Applications, 2025(c) Emerald Publishing, 2025info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:recercat.cat:2445/2184202026-05-29T05:05:01Z |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| title |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| spellingShingle |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval Macià, Yessica Wikis (Informàtica) Estudis de gènere Wikis (Computer science) Gender studies |
| title_short |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| title_full |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| title_fullStr |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| title_sort |
Editorial decision-making on Wikipedia: an analysis of gender bias and its impact on discoverability and information retrieval |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Macià, Yessica Fernández, Laura Ferran Ferrer, Núria |
| author |
Macià, Yessica |
| author_facet |
Macià, Yessica Fernández, Laura Ferran Ferrer, Núria |
| author_role |
author |
| author2 |
Fernández, Laura Ferran Ferrer, Núria |
| author2_role |
author author |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
Wikis (Informàtica) Estudis de gènere Wikis (Computer science) Gender studies |
| topic |
Wikis (Informàtica) Estudis de gènere Wikis (Computer science) Gender studies |
| description |
This study explores the pervasive gender bias in Wikipedia’s editorial decision-making processes, particularly in the Catalan, Italian, and French editions. It examines how these processes—focused on deliberations and voting—affect the representation of gender diversity. Specifically, it evaluates the implications of banning gender-based categories for accessing information, rejecting inclusive language, and the controversial practice of including trans individuals' dead names in biographies. </p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach</strong> </p><p>The research employs a detailed content analysis of arguments presented during nine deliberative and voting processes conducted between 2014 and 2024. A redesigned codebook was utilized to classify and analyze arguments based on their type and stance toward gender inclusion. The study also coded editors' gender identities, where identifiable, to assess patterns of participation and perspectives within these processes. </p><p><strong>Findings</strong> </p><p>The findings reveal a systemic resistance to gender diversity in decision-making processes, predominantly justified through appeals to values, neutrality policies, and community norms. While arguments supporting inclusivity often emphasized ethical considerations, practical reasoning, and precedence, they were insufficient to sway outcomes in favor of gender inclusion. The lack of consensus and resistance perpetuates the invisibility of gender-diverse identities, reinforcing existing inequalities. </p><p><strong>Originality</strong> </p><p>This research uniquely examines Wikipedia’s decision-making infrastructure and its broader implications for knowledge representation. By highlighting the systemic barriers to inclusivity in collaborative knowledge platforms, it contributes to critical discussions on diversity and equity in digital information systems. |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2025 2025 2025 2025 |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion |
| format |
article |
| status_str |
acceptedVersion |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv |
https://hdl.handle.net/2445/218420 |
| url |
https://hdl.handle.net/2445/218420 |
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Inglés |
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Inglés |
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Versió postprint del document publicat a: Data Technologies and Applications, 2025 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv |
(c) Emerald Publishing, 2025 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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(c) Emerald Publishing, 2025 |
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openAccess |
| dc.format.none.fl_str_mv |
29 p. application/pdf |
| dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Emerald Publishing |
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Emerald Publishing |
| dc.source.none.fl_str_mv |
Articles publicats en revistes (Biblioteconomia, Documentació i Comunicació Audiovisual) reponame:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya instname:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
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Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
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Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
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Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
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