Race, Gender, and Representation in Social Learning Spaces

Continuing with the topic that we started discussing yesterday, I have been thinking about who gets to lead, teach, and be heard in online learning communities. At first sight, social media gives the illusion of equal access, but when it comes to race and gender, I would say that the playing field is far from level.

I have noticed that in many knowledge-sharing spaces, voices of color, especially women of color, are often underrepresented or overlooked. In a recent experience that I had, I noticed that posts from Black or Latinx professionals sometimes receive less engagement, or their expertise is questioned more readily than others. Meanwhile, white voices are more likely to be amplified, even when discussing the same topics. It is subtle, but persistent.

It is also not just about followers or likes. It is about whose knowledge is validated, don’t you think? Algorithms shape what we see and often reflect offline biases. Safiya Noble (2018), for instance, calls this algorithmic oppression, that is, when technology quietly reinforces social inequalities.

But I have also seen incredible resistance: hashtags like #BlackInTheIvory and #LatinxInSTEM are not just trends, they are powerful spaces where people challenge the gatekeeping of knowledge and make room for diverse expertise to thrive.

So, I ask myself, and you, too, how can we make our digital learning spaces more equitable? How can we listen more intentionally, amplify marginalized voices, and reflect on who we are learning from?

From my perspective, true social learning does not just happen when we share; I believe it happens when we listen, include, and uplift. And this should echo from school to the world.

See you soon!

The Great Gatsby.



Reference

Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. NYU Press.

Comments

  1. Aastha BJuly 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM

    Thank you for this thoughtful and powerful reflection. I really appreciate how you named the disconnect between the appearance of equal access and the reality of systemic bias in digital learning spaces. Your mention of algorithmic oppression and the way it quietly reinforces exclusion is such an important reminder. I agree—social learning is not just about sharing, but about who gets heard and whose knowledge is valued. Creating more equitable spaces starts with intentional listening and conscious amplification of marginalized voices. Thank you for challenging us to think more deeply.





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