Global gender differences in Wikipedia readership

TL;DR

This study reveals significant gender disparities in Wikipedia readership, showing women are underrepresented, read fewer pages, and have different topical preferences, highlighting the need for strategies to promote knowledge equity.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive analysis of global gender differences in Wikipedia readership using survey and log data.

Findings

Women are underrepresented among Wikipedia readers.

Women view fewer pages per session than men.

Men and women have different topical preferences.

Abstract

Wikipedia represents the largest and most popular source of encyclopedic knowledge in the world today, aiming to provide equal access to information worldwide. From a global online survey of 65,031 readers of Wikipedia and their corresponding reading logs, we present novel evidence of gender differences in Wikipedia readership and how they manifest in records of user behavior. More specifically we report that (1) women are underrepresented among readers of Wikipedia, (2) women view fewer pages per reading session than men do, (3) men and women visit Wikipedia for similar reasons, and (4) men and women exhibit specific topical preferences. Our findings lay the foundation for identifying pathways toward knowledge equity in the usage of online encyclopedic knowledge.