Wikimedia Community User Group Cyprus/WikiGap 2025
W I K I G A P Cyprus 2025
- Mind the WikiGap - Closing the gender gap in Wikipedia
Wikipedia has a problem — a gender gap problem. In a world that has systematically overlooked women's inventions, achievements, and activism, Wikipedia reflects these biases and this must be addressed.
To mark International Women's Day, and as part of the global WikiGap Campaign, the Wikimedia Community User Group Cyprus is organizing an edit-a-thon aimed at reducing gender imbalance among Wikipedia editors and content. This initiative seeks to raise awareness and create solutions to close the gender gap.
The event is organized by the Wikimedia Community User Group Cyprus, in collaboration with the WICZ+ FOUNDATION, with the support of the Goethe-Institut Cyprus, the Girls in STEAM Academy and it is held under the auspices of the Commissioner for Gender Equality, Ms. Josie Christodoulou.
- Event details
- Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
- Time: 09:30 - 16:00 (EET)
- Location: Goethe-Institut Cyprus
- Background
Wikipedia is the world's largest and most widely used online encyclopedia, created and maintained by a vast community of volunteers. Since its launch in 2001, it has amassed approximately 47 million articles in 299 languages.
A 2018 study by the Wikimedia Foundation examining Wikipedia's contributor demographics revealed the significant gender gap. Of the 3,734 surveyed contributors:
- 90% identified as male,
- 9% identified as female,
- 1% identified as non-binary or another gender.
This male-dominated contributor base results in content imbalances, reflecting broader societal biases. Recent data from Wikidata Query Service (done by ToprakM) highlight this gap:
- Turkish Wikipedia: 102,873 articles about men vs. 26,143 about women (20.3%)
- Greek Wikipedia: 58,812 articles about men vs. 14,381 about women (19.6%)
- English Wikipedia: 1,636,146 articles about men vs. 409,547 about women (20.0%)
Beyond gender, Wikipedia also exhibits geographical and racial biases, further influencing the platform's knowledge representation.
- About the edit-a-thon
This event aims to create and improve Wikipedia articles on women in Greek, English, Turkish, and Armenian Wikipedia.
- What is an edit-a-thon?
Edit-a-thons are collaborative events where volunteers come together to create and improve Wikipedia content on a specific topic.
- Editing focus
Our goal is to improve Wikipedia's coverage of women from Cyprus, including Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Maronite, Armenian, and Latin women who have made significant contributions in arts, science, business, activism, and civil rights. We also welcome biographies of other women whose achievements deserve recognition.
- Ways to contribute
- Creating new articles: Creating entries for notable women who currently lack a Wikipedia page.
- Expanding existing articles: Improving underdeveloped entries on women.
This initiative will commence on March 29th and will run until April 4, 2025.
- Social media
Help us spread the word before, during, and after the event! Use the hashtags: #MindTheWikiGap #WikiGap #CypriotWomenOnWikipedia
- Preparation
- Register on Wikipedia at least one day before the event – it’s easy!
- Review the proposed topics for article creation and improvement.
- Suggest new topics—do you know a notable woman who deserves an article?
- Identify reliable sources to support biographical articles.
- Practice in Wikipedia’s “sandbox”—a space to draft and test edits before publishing.
- Bring your laptop!
- Useful information
Wikipedia is a collaborative platform. Our community of experienced editors, researchers, and fact-checkers will be available to assist you throughout the event.
- Writing articles
Creating an article is similar to writing an academic essay:
- Structure: Articles include a title, subheadings, body text, and sources.
- Neutral Tone: Wikipedia articles should be factual and unbiased.
- Verifiability: Information must be backed by reliable sources.
- Originality: Do not copy-paste; summarize in your own words.
- Images: Use only copyright-free photos from Wikimedia Commons.
- Categories: Link your article to relevant Wikipedia categories.
- Sources: Printed books, newspapers, scholarly journals, and reputable websites are ideal references.
- Event schedule (TBC)
| Session 1: Opening and Introduction | |
|---|---|
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Registrations |
| 10:00 - 10:05 | Welcome address by Anna Prodromou, Leader of the WCUGC |
| 10:05 - 10:10 | Address by Ms Natalie Stylianou - Goethe-Institut Cyprus |
| 10:10 - 10:15 | Address by the Ambassador of Sweden, Mr Martin Hagström |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Remarks by the Commissioner for Gender Equality, Ms. Josie Christodoulou |
| Session 2: Gender Bias on Wikipedia & Beyond | |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Panel discussion Speakersː Dr. Muesser C. Nat, Lecturer in Computer Science Anastasia Liopetriti, Co-founder of Girls in STEAM Academy Marios Magioladitis, President of the Wikimedia Community User Group Greece Moderator: Sezis Okut Thompson |
| 10:50 - 11:15 | Coffee break |
| Session 3: Training & Hands-on Editing | |
| 11:15 - 11:30 | Presentation on Wikipedia’s gender gap Speaker Marios Magioladitis, President of the Wikimedia Community User Group Greece |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Wikipedia guidelines & hands-on training |
| 12:30 - 13:00 | Lunch break |
| Session 4: Wikipedia Editing Workshop | |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Collaborative article creation & improvement - Session 1 |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Coffee break |
| 14:45 - 15:45 | Collaborative article creation & improvement - Session 2 |
| Session 5: Closing Ceremony | |
| 15:45 - 16:00 | Closing remarks |
- Content for editing
Participants will have access to:
- Lists of notable women lacking Wikipedia articles
- Underdeveloped Wikipedia articles that need expansion
- Guidance on structuring a Wikipedia biography
Let's work together to increase the representation of Cypriot women on Wikipedia!