Form an orderly queue, ladies (OSCON, 2008)

Form an orderly queue, ladieshow to really get more women involved in FOSS

emma jane hogbin

I am IAM

SorryA boot

eh?

1995: I discovered the Internet

BSD OSXDebian Mepis Ubuntu

Drupaldrupal.org/user/1773

morten.dk

emmajane: user/3

10,218 membersbuilt with drupal 5

www.crochetme.com

10,233 membersbuilt with drupal 5

www.crochetme.com

emmajanedotnet

155,916 membersruby on rails

www.ravelry.comcodemonkey.ravelry.com

156,060 membersruby on rails

www.ravelry.comcodemonkey.ravelry.com

Artists and hackers sharecommon traits in dealing with

creativity and stress.Alan Carter :: www.theprogrammersstone.com

HICK Techis the rural and

modern technology conference

Linux Counter # 316906LinuxChixWebGrrls

Ubuntu WomenDebian Women

Drupal Chix

LinuxChixWebGrrls

Ubuntu WomenDebian Women

Drupal Chix

Feminists?Breasts?Ovaries?Vaginas?

My vagina is not relevant to the functionality of my computer or

any other computer.

This is a difficult topic.This is a difficult topic.

Woman Abuse andThe Glass Ceiling

are not unique to FOSS

Nor are they thedominant behaviour.

Gender identity is more than penis vs vagina.

I’ve struggled with the question:does this gender thing really matter?

I continue to struggle.

I’ve reada lot.

I’ve tested social boundaries.I’ve pissed people off.

I’ve asked questions intech communities, feminist

communities and a room of a few hundred teenage girls.

Taking about“the lack of women”

has not moved us ahead.

We need tochange the conversation.

The conversation needs to be aboutworld domination of FOSS.

</serious>

Form an orderly queue, ladies!A presentation in four parts:

1. Where we are now.2. A new way of thinking.3. IRL: a “case study”4. Steps to change.

Part One:Where we are now

Proprietary Developers

FOSS Developers

72% of proprietary developers are male

98.5% participants of FOSS projects are maleSource: FLOSSPOLS

Normally we focus on the behaviour of men to explain the lack of women in technology.

Appropriate behaviour is described in HOWTO Encourage

Women in Linux.

There are 26 rules of engagement described in the document.

(Perfect for my inner aspie.)

Don’t tell sexist jokes.Don’t call people bitches.

Don’t take the keyboard away.Don’t make sexual advances towards women.

Don’t complain about the lack of women in computing.Don’t stare and point when women arrive.

Don’t treat women stereotypically.Don’t criticize too much.

Don’t invite only male speakers.Don’t microspecialize.

Don’t make your meetings hard to attend.Don’t make new people feel unwelcome.Don’t underestimate girlfriends or wives.

Source: HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux

DON’T ...

Do protest sexist jokes.Do show some respect.

Do give directions and explain them clearly.Do act friendly.

Do encourage women in computing.Do treat new arrivals politely.

Do treat women as normal people.Do compliment.

Do ask women to speak.Do discuss broader topics.

Do make meetings easy to attend.Do help new people get involved.

Do treat girlfriends and wives as independent people.

Source: HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux

DO ...

SummarySummaryDon’t be a dick.Don’t be a dick.

Do encourage participation.Do encourage participation.

FOSS is social:IRC and mailing lists

encourage interaction.

Photo by: Malingering (Flickr)

Many interactions Many interactions end up feeling end up feeling

awkward.awkward.

At the age of 8,I thought this

was hot.

Hint.

`

Photo by: Malingering (Flickr)

““God gave men God gave men brains larger brains larger

than dogs’ so than dogs’ so they wouldn’t they wouldn’t

hump women’s hump women’s legs at cocktail legs at cocktail

parties.”parties.” Ruth Libby, Hackers Ruth Libby, Hackers

““I hope you don’t screwI hope you don’t screwlike you type.”like you type.” Kate Libby, Hackers Kate Libby, Hackers

<Myrtti> Cheeky bastard! Are you asking a girl to open up her API so

you can fiddle with the kernel!

Ubuntu helps you get laid.Now ask me about

Jamie Zawinski’s mother.

Is Kate being sexist?Could you tell Myrtti was joking?

Does Randall use Wikipedia?Is it ok to misquote Mark?

it’s time to movebeyond awkward...

world domination of FOSS

Part Two:A new way of thinking

Ubuntu Bug #1Microsoft has a

majority market share.

Market share means end users.

end users? yawn.end users? yawn.

Proprietary software has:more end users; and

more developers.

The challenge of Bug #1:switching

brands

Believing the marketers.Believing the stereotypes.

Twothirds of women arelikely to switch brands

“based on a good cause.”(vs. 15% of men)

Washington Business Journal

Women make more than 80% of buying decisions in all homes.

Business Week

Women research extensively and are less likely to be influenced by ads.

Business Week

“Women place more importance on brand characteristics and

personal assistance fromstore personnel and experts

than men do.”International Mass Retail Association

Reality CheckReality Check

FOSS is selfserve.And FOSS is free.

It’s time toIt’s time toengage differently.engage differently.

The Game Plan1. Identify the strengths of FOSS.

2. Determine real needs.3. Focus your efforts.

Strength:FOSS is free.

Charities tend to employ a lot of

women.

Stan

Show a local charity how to spend less money on software.

Strength:FOSS provides freedom.

Seniors can get trapped into routines.

neonmanifesto

Help them escape.Help them escape.

Affect the next generation.Affect the next generation.

Strength:FOSS is alternative.

Put a stack of Ubuntu CDs Put a stack of Ubuntu CDs in your local sex shop.in your local sex shop.

Good For Her, Toronto

Advocacy, however, isnot an overnight solution.

But like a onenight stand, the effects of one interaction can

change a person’s life.

Part Three:

IRL

“Women tend to socializea lot more ...”

Peter Cooper

“Perhaps they don't really want to (or need to) use conferences as a

social outlet?”Peter Cooper

Based on my experience:women are workshop junkies.

acnatta

Quilting BeesQuilting Bees

picsbyathena

Scrapbooking retreatsScrapbooking retreats

Women pay to attendsocial gatherings

about interesting topics.

Charging a fee forces a commitment to participation.

Increasing the cost willincrease the perceived value.

Larry Dotson



HICK isHow the Internet Connects Knowledge

FAILFAIL

jack o’ lantern: 2040 feetjack o’ lantern: 2040 feet



It is an ideasfocused,end user conference.

HICK Tech empowers women to talk about technology.

2008 Registrants

0 5 10 15 20 25

WomenMen

female registrants

male registrants

Some women even bring their husbands to the conference.

2007 Speakers

33

2 2

3

3

2

1 2

W: 18 presentationsM: 18 presentations

2008 Speakers

W: 10 presentationsM: 12 presentations

Keynote presentation

Wrapup moderator

Marketing HICK Tech to women increased overall participation.

And they registered early!(2/3 of early bird registrants were women)

Part Four:Five Steps to Change

Live in the future.Live in the future.1.

Be a real person on and offline.

Behave as if you werealready surrounded by women.

Work on the main team of FOSS projects, work together on

advocacy solutions.

Do one thing different.Do one thing different.2.

If we have conscience on every daily action, we can change the

“mainstream” conceptions.Claudia Lulkin (environmental and social activist)

Start by opening one windowfor one person.

Getting a friend to use Firefox and OpenOffice.org counts as two.

`

Ask for help.Ask for help.3.3.

Ask womento be role models.

www.geekspeakr.com

Ask men to helpmake change happen too.

(LUGs, conference organizers, coworkers, clients)

Empower peopleEmpower peopleto make foolish mistakes.to make foolish mistakes.4.4.

Reduced stress will empower you to work more creatively.

Alan Carter

Empowermenteliminates fear.

VW Advertised:

BeowulfBeowulf GrendelGrendel

I stalled three times leaving the garageand no one took away my keys.

BeowulfBeowulf GrendelGrendel

ClearlyClearlytransfer authority.transfer authority.5.5.

Women are used to consuming technology. We are not used to

being in the driver’s seat.

EncourageEncourage women to question the software given to them.

AskAsk women how to improve it.TeachTeach women to change reality.

“There are hackers and programmers who cannot work on open source in a free land.”

Nnenna Nwakanme

5 Steps to Change1. Live in the future.

2. Do one thing different.3. Ask for help.

4. Empower people.5. Clearly transfer authority.
















Keep your eye on the prize:Keep your eye on the prize:world domination of open source software.world domination of open source software.

We are 50% of the solution.We are 50% of the solution.

Thanks, eh?● acnatta (quilting bee)● bebulaki (open window)● hypatia & good for her (sex toys)● hockey and more (stanley cup)● iamiam (canadian flag)● library_mistress (reference librarian)● new1mproved (girls jumping into a lake)● neonmanifesto (card game)● julphotos (woman looking into camera)● malingering (dog humping leg)● morten.dk (drupal socks)● judybaxter (three women in class)● steffe (yield to unicorns)

● picsbyathena (scrapbooking)● steve patterson (nature journaling)● obtuse (Red Hat Society parade)● sliqua (red hat dude)● yougotrickrolled (poster in bedroom)● thomashawk (Red Hat Soc + other)● welshboy (man climbing fence)● stan (working at laptop)● wowstanley (female police)● shefaet (learning chess)● jeff brick (volkswagons)● f1rstborn (stop sign)● drtchock (unicorn lolcat)

More photo credits:– www.xkcd.com– www.punkinchuckin.ca– www.flickr.com/emmajane

Creative Commons (via flickr.com)

http://www.punkinchuckin.ca/

http://www.flickr.com/emmajane

PS You were rickrolled.PS You were rickrolled.




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Form an orderly queue, ladies (OSCON, 2008)