“Identity based mixing does little to address the structural parameters that are set up when a homogeneous group has been at the center and don’t automatically engender understanding across forms of difference.”
Bailey, Moya Z. “All the Digital Humanists Are White, All the Nerds Are Men, but Some of Us Are Brave.” Journal of Digital Humanities, 2011,
Why did this particular passage grab your attention?
Over the past decade, there has been increased talk of incorporating people from marginalized backgrounds into fields they have historically been excluded from. This has been noticeable in politics, medicine, business, and countless others. Digital Humanities is no different, as diversity belongs in every field, significantly where people can shift culture and challenge the status quo. Bailey recognizes the presence of marginalized peoples in Digital Humanities who are already impacting communities. One example is Dr. Carla Stokes’s platform Helping Our Teen Girls, which offers a safe digital space for Black girls to create identity, and address media literacy and social justice issues. The existence of marginalized people, spaces, and ideas in the digital world is not enough; they need to be made mainstream. The Digital Humanities community emphasizes collaboration, so until people already established in the field make room for and incorporate intersections of marginalized identities, perspectives will be missing.
What elements of your past experiences, current interests, or future plans did it kindle?
In the past, I have been discouraged from trying any computational software as I have always been more interested in social sciences and humanities; I could not see a place for my interests in this predominantly male-dominated field. Bailey’s journal provided tangible examples of how Digital Humanities has been used beyond the narrow scope I previously imagined. I’m curious to continue exploring the intersections of Digital Arts and Humanities with other fields and how it can be utilized to support communities and convey ideas.
Under the large umbrella of Digital (Arts &) Humanities, which areas of inquiry, methods or techniques are you most eager to pursue this term and why?
I am eager to continue advancing my knowledge of 3D modeling as I enjoyed Fusion360 and look forward to learning what capabilities it has.
