”HUR MYCKET BREDARE KAN VI BLI NÄR VI SÄGER ATT ALLA ÄR VÄLKOMNA?” En normkritisk undersökning av tre Makerspaces

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate three Makerspaces in Sweden about how they work with inclusion and equality in their activities. How do they describe their Makerspace based on the concepts, have they experienced any problems and what way of proceeding do they find useful? Makerspaces is a public workshop where makers can share tools and knowledge. The idea of the maker movement is based on democratic openness and collaborative production. The reason of this study is my own involvement and interest in craft collaboration. For about two years, I took the initiative to Folkverkstan, a Makerspace that will be based in Gothenburg. Due to my desire to strengthen the openness and equity in Folkverkstan, my expectation is that this study can raise these questions. The method of the research is three semi-structured interviews of 1-2 hours with persons in leading position at Mikrofabriken in Gothenburg, Partille Makerspace and Stockholm Makerspace. Based on manuals with a norm-critical approach and intersectionality, I discuss the findings from the interviews. The result of the study confirm previous research, the access to the benefits of Makerspace facilities is unevenly spread. Boys and men in the middle age is most common doing projects in “hard” craft and technology. It can be concluded that inequality in the larger macro society is difficult to escape even in a micro context, in this case as a community of a Makerspace. People tend to transport practices from one site to another. Power structures is built on norms that affect who is or is not able to participate in activities. To lower barriers to entry the Makerspace, we need to establish a norm-critical approach. Thus, we can prevent exclusion, stigmatization and the naturalization of subordination.