Free software is about freedom, but is that really a reality for everyone out
there? Is it true, what a lot of people claim, that since free software by its
nature is free, it therefore does not suffer from inequality? Everyone with the
economical and practical resources has the possibility to contribute to any free
software project, anyone can join. Unfortunately, reality does not look like
this, we have a problem with inequality. If we exclude women from the free
software community, we exclude contributors, both women and men. Is software
really free if not everybody is free to join?
ICT role in 21st century education and its challenges
Women in Floss
1. 1
”If you want to help, you can start
by getting some coffee”
Christina Gratorp <christina@gratorp.se>
Nov 6, 2010
2. 2
<3 FLOSS
Me
• Woman
• Transmode, Embedded software design
Involvement
• Use, promote and teach FLOSS as much as I can
• Conferences
• Talks (like this one)
Computer world
• Got my first own computer 1994 (age 13)
• Was introduced to FLOSS 2008 (age 27)
3. 3
wtf?! or: how to alienate women
”They [computers] are designed by men, they are a
product of mens’ fantasy, and therefore we [women]
are not interested in them and we can not
understand them.”
Rigmor Rob`ert (Amelia nr 1/95)
4. 4
• Ada Lovelace
- The first programmer.
• Grace Hopper
- Hopper wrote the first compiler, mother of COBOL
• Mary Allen Wilkes
- Computer programmer; First person to use a computer
in a private home and the first developer of an operating
system (LAP) for the first minicomputer (LINC)
• Adele Goldberg
- Goldberg is one of the designers and developers of
Smalltalk
5. 5
Why is this important?
Driving away women means driving away
contributors. Both women and men.
(That is not good if you want free software to dominate the
world...)
10. 10
Why are there so few women in FLOSS?
• Social reasons
- Women are discouraged from technology...
... in childhood
... in media
... in social expectations
11. 11
Why are there so few women in FLOSS?
- Lack of confidence due to...
... social pressure
... lack of female technical role models
12. 12
Why are there so few women in FLOSS?
When girls and boys have access to computers
male female
Age of computer introduction (use) 12 14.5
Age of getting your own computer 15 19
13. 13
But... these reasons apply to all women
getting into IT, not FLOSS in particular...
What is so special about FLOSS?
19. 19
Bad ideas
• ”Jokes”
- If you can tell the joke in a room full of women,
including your mother, it is probably an ok joke. If you
wouldn’t, don’t.
• Dates/Marriage proposals
• Doubting women’s intelligence/expertise
• Insults specific to females (that time of month etc...)
21. 21
A bad example
Dear Starla,
At Bugtraq Security Systems we pride ourselfs in having a keen
eye for young and upcoming talent. Specifically, core members
of our Research and Development team have expressed
continously growing feelings of affection towards your person.
Or, as one of our researchers put it: ”hehehe I’d like to
research and develop that all night long :D:D:D”.
What it boils down to is that we at BSS (Bugtraq Security
Systems) would like to offer you.. Starla Pureheart.. prolific
warrior princess of the great Nuke Wars of 1997... a position
at Bugtraq Security Systems. Preferably on your knees.
Love, Bugtraq Security Systems
PS: All kidding aside, get in touch with us Anna - we need a
token femme
29. 29
Be friendly
Take a little extra time to direct people when they
ask something, compared to RTFM.
30. 30
Make the first steps easier
- Better documentation
- Mentorship program
- Tag stuff in TODO list with beginner friendly
31. 31
A good example
Figure: GnomeLove - an initiative that aims to help people
who want to get started contributing to GNOME
32. 32
Another good example
”Catie, please contribute more often.
I enjoy your comments and posts they are often plently more
insightful than some of the half-arsed posts from people who
haven’t yet learnt when to keep their mouths shut. In
particular, although I may not agree with your point of view, I
enjoyed reading the recent thread with jdub about GPL vs
freedom... :)
Thanks for being a valued contributor to the list.
Dave”
SLUG mailing list, Sydney.