In March 2023, I conducted a survey on women’s participation in OSM activities. It became apparent that individuals’ perspectives came into place and interpreted the survey topic differently. The survey aimed to gather perceptions, opinions, and insights into why some women do not participate in OSM activities and what factors may discourage those who were already participating from continuing. There were various reactions about the survey, from questioning the relevance of the topic to commending the effort to address it.

I was fortunate to have had support from various individuals for the topic, including Heather Leson, Arnalie Vicario, Pete Masters, Geoffrey Kateregga, and the Geochicas family, who were interested and open to exploring the topic through webinars and discussions. One such webinar featured speakers from diverse backgrounds:

• Stellamaris Wavamunno Nakacwa, Programme Director at Youthmappers EverywhereSheMaps
• Mikko Tamura, Community Manager at Open Mapping Hub Asia Pacific
• Jaqueline Amorim, Expert Mapper in Geostatical Data/HOT Data Quality Intern in 2022

The webinar was moderated by Dr. Prince Kwame Odame from Africa, a lecturer at the University of Education Winneba-Ghana. You can review the webinar here.

A unique aspect of the survey was that, in addition to focusing on individuals who identify as women, I also sought perspectives from men. I was pleasantly surprised by some of their positive viewpoints, although there were also negative responses. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in the survey.

One key takeaway from the survey is the importance of considering diverse perspectives. Just because something may not be perceived as an issue by one person does not mean it isn’t significant to others. We all view the world through different lenses, and it’s essential to be considerate and open-minded to learn from various angles.

I appreciate your patience, and below is the summary of the survey and the full report can be read here.

Thank you all for your understanding and support.