Situating makerspaces as
an extension of post-industrial economies, and sites where technical
communication and craftivism take place, this dissertation builds on critiques
of makerspaces as hobbyist spaces that privilege digital electronics, populated
mostly by white men. To do so, this dissertation analyzes who participates in
feminist makerspaces, how “makers” describe their work and their experiences,
and the roles of rhetoric and technical communication within feminist
makerspaces. Building on prior studies of maker communities, this research
follows a mixed methods approach and an iterative methodology, including online
survey, site studies, interviews, and on-site automated survey to collect user
data via kiosk. The online survey asked participants to describe makerspaces
they’ve visited, their experiences visiting makerspaces, their work, and
themselves. Follow-up interviews conducted with three survey participants addressed
times participants felt unwelcome or out of place in a makerspace.
Additionally, site studies consisted of visiting and observing two Midwestern
makerspaces, both of which partnered with public libraries. This dissertation
argues that makerspaces need to do a better job of welcoming guests and new
members and actively hosting social events, rather than passively marketing
workshops focused on specific technologies. Although people are becoming more
familiar with makerspaces, regardless of gender and other aspects of identity,
participants describe social anxieties about entering new spaces and unfamiliar
communities as common barriers to entry, even before encountering issues based
on gender, race, and other aspects of identity. If makerspaces (and “maker”
communities more broadly) aim to be more inclusive and equitable, then actively
welcoming people in general is a necessary baseline. As such, this dissertation
draws from rhetorical theory to suggest ways that makerspaces can improve their
hospitality and technical communication practices.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/8306492 |
| Date | 02 August 2019 |
| Creators | John T Sherrill (6864797) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/DIY_Feminism_in_Post-Industrial_Spaces/8306492 |
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