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Women in Free/Open Source Software Development
Hanna WallachUniversity of Cambridge/University of Pennsylvania
hmw26@cam.ac.uk
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Part I:Free and Open Source Software
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
It's everywhere!
Linux kernel:most famous free software project
70% of web servers
over 8 million accounts
powers Wikipedia
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“Four Freedoms”
● The freedom to:– Run the program for any purpose– Study and adapt the program for your needs– Redistribute copies– Make and publically release changes
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Free vs. Open Source
● (Nearly) identical groups of software● Different philosophies, histories● Open source: development methodology● Free software: social movement
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Source Code
● 2 freedoms require access to source code● Would you buy a car if
– it was illegal to open the hood?– the hood was welded shut?– breaking weld points was a criminal offence?
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Free Software and Business
● Commercial does not mean non-free● Can make money from free software
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Distributed Development
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Getting Involved
● Not just coding:– Testing, translation, documentation, “love”
● Ways to get involved:– Filing bug reports– Sending suggestions and patches
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Users
$100 laptop project
Brazilian governement
City of Munich
Venezuelan government
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Part II:Women in Free Software
Development
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Proprietary Software
72.00%
28.00%
Men
Women
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Free Software
98.50%
1.50%
Men
Women
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Why So Few Women?
● No one knows– Lack of interest or experience?– Self-doubts and lack of confidence?– Hard to get involved?– Unwanted attention? (OMFG a g1rl!!)
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
FLOSS-POLS Project
● Studies on free/open source software● Universities of Maastricht and Cambridge● 2002 and 2005● Funded by European Commission
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Aims
● Gather socioeconomic data● Find facts/opinions regarding gender gap● Identify possible causes● Establish recommendations for change
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Methodology
● Quantitative online survey● Sample size: ~1500 participants● Ethnographic study● “Snowball” sampling
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Median Age of First Computer Use and Possession by Gender
First computer use Own computer0
5
10
15
20
25
Male
Female
Ag
e in y
ears
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Year of Initial Involvement in FLOSS
19
70
19
74
19
76
19
79
19
80
19
81
19
82
19
83
19
84
19
85
19
86
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Year
Median (men)
Median (women)
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“Do women have less time than men to participate in FLOSS?”
Male Female0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Very true
Mainly true
Mainly False
Very false
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“For whom is it easier to get acknowledgement for FLOSS work?”
Male Female0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Men
Women
Gender doesn't matter
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“Do women often get more attention as a woman than as a FLOSS participant?”
Male Female0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Very true
Mainly true
Mainly False
Very false
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“Have you ever been asked on a date by another FLOSS participant?”
Male Female0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Often
Seldom
Never
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Summary
● Women tend to:– Get involved in free software later– Start using comupters later– Get their first “own” computer later– Have different experiences in FLOSS to men
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Part III:The Debian Women Project
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Debian GNU/Linux
● Linux kernel, GNU OS tools● >15,490 packages● 100% “free” software● Developed by a group of volunteers
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
“Universal Operating System”?
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
The Debian Women Project
● Founded in 2004● First such project for a Linux distribution
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
What We Do
● Provide role models● Give tutorials on Debian-related topics● Mentoring project● Presentations at conferences● Word-of-mouth advocacy
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Debian Women Isn't...
● A dating agency● Solely concerned with support● Segregated● An “affirmative action” project● Striving for a Disney-like atmosphere
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Who Are We?
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Unexpected Results
● Many men are actively involved● Respect from the Debian community● “Good for women = good for everyone”● 9 women in the “new maintainer” queue!
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Part IV:Conclusions, Resources
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Conclusions
● Free software is a LOT of fun● Women in computing is not solved
– There are still areas with almost no women
● Not knowing WHY doesn't mean you can't start to change things!
Hanna Wallach hmw26@cam.ac.ukWomen in Free/Open Source Software
Resources
● http://www.fsf.org● http://flosspols.org/● http://www.debian.org/● http://women.alioth.debian.org/
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