One voice as a beacon: Analyzing a crowd-sourced qualitative data set using a feminist approach to knowledge management

Abstract

World Pulse is a transnational digital community that supports women in sharing their experiences with global organizations to bring about social change. In a digital action campaign entitled “Women Weave the Web”, almost 600 women from 71 countries submitted on-line journal entries proposing solutions to issues of women’s digital inclusion. The entries were analysed using a social constructivist methodology based on feminist theory in a knowledge management framework. This case study explores opportunities to highlight feminist perspectives of knowledge creation in a virtual community. Qualitative data sets that emphasized local knowledge were anayzed to inform generalizable recommendations that could be used internationally. Data visualization techniques were used to speed the process of iterative analysis at various stages of knowledge creation. Because internet access is essential to the success of this kind of knowledge building endeavour on a global scale, libraries can play an important role as a portal to participation for women. Processes as well as products of the library recommendations portion of the study, along with reflections by the researcher will help inform the evaluation of virtual feminist communities for knowledge sharing through libraries.