Data Feminism: power, inequality, and social change
Who gets counted, who gets excluded, and who benefits from the stories data tells? In this workshop, participants will be introduced to Data Feminism, which Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein describe as ““a way of thinking about data, both their uses and their limits, that is informed by direct experience, by a commitment to action, and by intersectional feminist thought”” (2020). Together, we will explore how data practices can reproduce inequalities related to gender, race, sexuality, disability, class, age, geography, and other intersecting systems of power, as well as how data can be used to make those inequities visible, challenge unequal distributions of power, and support social change. Tying an understanding of inequality to a commitment to action, we will introduce data practices that can help make equality a reality, including Mel Mikhail’s proposals for data management in feminist research projects. Through an introduction to the principles of Data Feminism, participants will reflect on how these ideas can inform their own research, teaching, community engagement, and advocacy efforts.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe key principles of Data Feminism.
- Explain how systems of power shape data collection, interpretation, and use.
- Identify opportunities to use data to amplify marginalized perspectives and advance social change.
- Reflect on their own data types and what kinds of biases and ideological beliefs inform them.
New to Data Feminism? No problem! This workshop is designed for anyone interested in learning how data can be used to challenge inequities and support social change. Researchers, educators, students, librarians, staff, and community members are all welcome.
Workshop Preparation
None
Facilitator Bio
Sarah Whitwell (she/her) is the Educational Developer for the Office of Community Engagement. In her role, she supports community-campus partnerships in teaching and learning. An important part of this work is navigating digital literacy and how evolving technology shapes community engagement. Sarah is also a sessional instructor for the Department of History, Global Peace & Social Justice Program, and Gender & Social Justice Program.
Danica Evering is a Research Data Management Specialist grounded in curiosity and a deep commitment to ethics. Danica is available to help students, postdocs, faculty, and staff with RDM through the data lifecycle—Data Management Plans, storage and backup, data security, data sharing. With an MA in Media Studies, Danica fosters active interest in RDM across disciplines, with a knack for engaging researchers who might not even realize they have data to manage. Outside of work they sing in a choir, play PC games, maintain an art writing practice, grow a garden, contribute Wikipedia articles, and run.
Lauren McLean (She/Her/They) is the postdoctoral fellow for the Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship. As an interdisciplinary researcher, educator, and advocate, she is passionate about intersectional social change, community, and digital culture. Lauren holds a PhD in Literary Studies and Theatre Studies from the University of Guelph and her current work focuses on queer acts of resistance in relation to popular culture within online community spaces. Within and beyond her current work, Lauren is a self-declared feminist killjoy hoping for change.
Workshop Slides
Coming soon.