Inclusivity in Makerspaces

There have been many claims that makerspaces can promote democratic participation in society. However, the reality is rather different. Issues of gender, ethnicity and social class mean access to makerspaces is often uneven. In this article, we’ll discuss how we can make sure makerspaces are inclusive to all.

Non-Inclusivity in Makerspaces

The majority of makerspaces are located in urban spaces, which immediately excludes many people living in rural communities from participating.

A US survey found that ‘8 in 10 makers are male, their median household income is $106,000, and 80% have a post-graduate education’ (Alper, 2013).

Issues of gender, ethnicity, social class and disability urgently need addressing in this area, given the uneven access to makerspaces.

Inclusivity and the MakEY Project

It was this very issue which prompted Principle Investigator Jackie Marsh to start the MakEY project.

Entering a makerspace in the city of Berlin. She noted:

The makerspace I visited was full and lively, but I was rather surprised that it was populated primarily by men, mainly white men, and primarily aged between 18 and 26. They were engaged in making a whole range of interesting artefacts.

I talked to one young man who told me he was designing and 3D printing a waterproof cover for his iPhone. I was very impressed at his ingenuity, but also saddened that only a certain demographic appeared to be reaping the benefits of this open-access makerspace.

I decided at that point to contact other early childhood researchers to see if we could explore how to engage a diverse group of children from an early age in making.

Making Makerspaces Inclusive to All

The forms of ingenuity present in communities that are not benefiting from dominant economic structures – such as material repair and trade, hacking, making as social or artistic practice, and economic survival – are deemphasized’
_{Shirin Vossoughi, Paula Hooper, and Meg Escudé}

Makerspaces and Accessibility

Finally, issues of disability need to be addressed. Many makerspaces are accessible and thus do not exclude on the grounds of physical disability, but other aspects of makerspaces need to be taken into account, such as having appropriate support for people with learning difficulties, and spaces that enable break-out/ downtime for individuals with mental health challenges, for example.

Inclusive Makerspaces Empower

Designing an inclusive makerspace can enable all who enter feel empowered to be a maker.

References

_{Alper, M. (2013). Making Space in the Makerspace: Building a Mixed-Ability Maker Culture, IDC’13, 24–27 June 2013, New York, NY, USA.}

_{Marsh, J., Kumpulainen, K., Nisha, B., Velicu, A., Blum-Ross, A., Hyatt, D., Jónsdóttir, S.R., Levy, R., Little, S., Marusteru, G., Ólafsdóttir, M.E., Sandvik, K., Scott, F., Thestrup, K., Arnseth, H.C., Dýrfjörð, K., Jornet, A., Kjartansdóttir, S.H., Pahl, K., Pétursdóttir, S. and Thorsteinsson, G. (2017) Makerspaces in the Early Years: A Literature Review. University of Sheffield: MakEY Project.}

_{Vossoughi, S., Hooper, P.K., and Escudé, M. (2016). Making Through the Lens of Culture and Power: Toward Transformative Visions for Educational Equity. Harvard Educational Review, 86(2), pp.206–232.}