There are subtle ways the tech industry leaves young women out. With programming, accessibility, codes of conduct or the lack thereof, tech conferences can be unpleasant for women rather than a great experience organizers try so hard to create. In this talk, I’ll lay out some obvious and not-so-obvious ways tech conferences could be better spaces for women interested in tech.

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WHY
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Tech Conferences
Can Suck for Women
(and How to Fix it)

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ANDREAWoman and WordPresser
@andreazoellner

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It didn’t matter how hard
I’d worked to prepare my
talk, my appearance was
more important.
PROBLEM:

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WHYfocus on conferences?

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can serve as a litmus test
for industry-wide
attitudes, behaviours,
and culture.
CONFERENCES

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Am I comfortable here?
Is this for me?
Do I belong?
Am I enjoying this?
”

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we’re intentional about
fostering a sense of
belonging, we create a
space where people can do
great work.
WHEN

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#1
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fail at being inclusive
when women feel out
of place.
CONFERENCES

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http://allmalepanels.tumblr.com/

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“When we don’t actively seek out different
speakers, we’re getting a tiny sliver of
the best content out there because we’re
consistently mining content from a small
group of people over and over again.”
-Katie Orenstein CEO and founder of
The Op-Ed Project,
”
”

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Invite
Encourage
Coach
Recruit
Sponsor

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#2
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fail at creating a sense
of belonging when women
feel dismissed.
CONFERENCES

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#3
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fail when women feel
sexualized, or worse,
unsafe.
CONFERENCES

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https://medium.com/@annevictoriaclark/

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THECode of Conduct is more
than just a policy.

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RESOURCES
•Increasing Diversity at Your Conference, by Ashe Dryden
www.ashedryden.com/blog/increasing-diversity-at-your-
conference
•TheLi.st, A Network and Visibility Platform for
Professional Women
theli.st
•Geek Feminism Wiki
http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Geek_Feminism_Wiki
•Outspoken Women
https://outspokenwomen.io/

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TAKEcare of each other.

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WHY
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Tech Conferences
Can Suck for Women
(and How to Fix it)