Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Space

The purpose of this talk is to situate the challenges of creating a diverse and inclusive space for all history enthusiasts. AskHistorians has become tremendously successful in its ability to connect historians to the public and foster enthusiasm for the study of the past. However there are significant challenges to creating such an environment, notably the traditional lack of accountability on anonymous internet spaces, as well as larger challenges of integrating social and subaltern history in a public forum.

Just as the historical establishment has begun to include voices from outside the mainstream, AskHistorians has likewise embraced a model that prizes diversity and inclusivity. One of the primary challenges of a space like AskHistorians a greater popularity for certain aspects of history (namely Western political and military history.) Although we pride ourselves on being a space where anyone can ask a question about anything, we strive to make sure that there is space created for those who pursue historical interests outside of the mainstream. We make a concerted effort to recruit experts in under-represented fields, and to use their knowledge in ways that brings their area of study to the mainstream of AskHistorians. We also create weekly threads that allow for diverse discussions of historical topics outside of our usual user-generated questions.

Because we want AskHistorians to be a space where anyone who loves history feels safe and included, we maintain an extremely strict code of conduct that insists on civility and respect from all users. We hold our users accountable in a way that is rare for internet spaces. Users who make use of oppressive or offensive language are banned immediately. Maintaining AskHistorians as an inclusive and diverse community is integral to our mission, and ensures that we will continue to grow as a unique form of historical outreach.