Applying Data Feminism: A cartographer's venture into feminist data visualization

Keywords: Feminism cartography, cartography, feminist geography, data feminism
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 57

Abstract

Mapmaking and data science are intertwined in countless ways, making cartography a perfect avenue to implement a feminist approach to data visualization. This cartographic project has been shaped by principles presented in the 2020 book Data Feminism by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein. In the book, the authors aim to unseat the traditional ideas that surround each concept, both data, and feminism, and work to define a new data feminism, by introducing seven principles of feminist data visualization. The principles presented by D’Iganzio and Klein are (1) Examine Power, (2) Challenge Power, (3) Elevate Emotion and Embodiment, (4) Rethink Binaries and Hierarchies, (5) Embrace Pluralism, (6) Consider Context, and (7) Make Labor Visible. This poster consists of a map made using United Nations data, shaped wholeheartedly by the principles of feminist data visualization. This map visualizes the spread of United Nations peacekeeping efforts across the globe, focusing on where peacekeepers come from and where they serve, in order to illustrate the spread of peacekeeping forces. Creating this map was an effort in mindful mapmaking, with a renewed emphasis placed on decision-making while mapping. This report discusses a review of Data Feminism, presents a map created with the principles, illustrates how these principles have been applied, and how they could be applied to virtually any visualization project.