[Linux-aus] How can we address gender imbalance in LA/AU-FLOSS? (Was: An Open Letter to the Open Source Community)

[Kym Farnik]

On 5/23/07, Nathan Bailey <Nathan.Bailey at its.monash.edu> wrote:
> On 23/05/2007, at 1:27 PM, Bret Busby wrote:
> > In the proposed restructuring of Linux Australia, does this mean
> > that it will have a "womens interest group" (but not a "men's
> > interest group"), and a "womens representative", "but not a "men's
> > representative", on the "governing council", ... (snip)
> Until at least 30-40% of the FLOSS community are women, we, as one of
> the leading FLOSS groups in Australia, should be leading the effort
> into investigating and resolving the imbalance. Perhaps we should
> fund Catherine Lang to help us. Catherine is the ACM-W Australian
> Ambassador, helps to lead http://www.austwic.org/ and researches in
> this area. It would be interesting to see what she could do to help
> us understand the local problems and give us some strategies to
> implement that are well-informed from international research/experience.

I think we should expect FLOSS to have the same gender proportions as
the ICT industry in general.   Meaning 20-25%.  To expect more is not
sensible.   For whatever reasons more males are attracted to ICT,
although females are just as capable.

-- 
Regards, Kym Farnik
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