Often perceived as a democratic space where anyone can edit and contribute, Wikipedia remains a battleground for ideological debates. Despite right-wing criticism of its “woke” agenda, a persistent gender gap has shaped its content and participation for over a decade. 

While its mission is to be the “sum of all human knowledge”, my research shows that only 19% of its biographies feature women, and just 10-15% of its editors are female. This disparity distorts the historical record and reinforces the invisibility of women’s contributions across fields such as science, politics, literature, and activism. 

Now more than ever, it is crucial for Wikipedia to be unbiased. Beyond providing information to billions of people, it is also one of the most widely used sources for training AI systems like ChatGPT. Any biases in its content risk being amplified and perpetuated, further entrenching systemic inequalities as these technologies develop. 

This article was originally published in The Conversation.