> -----Original Message----- > From: Leo Spalteholz [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, 26 March 2004 1:57 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: debian and women? from DWN #10 > > > On March 25, 2004 04:12 pm, Monique Y. Herman wrote: > > On 2004-03-25, s. keeling penned: > > > Incoming from Monique Y. Herman: > > >> http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Encourage-Women-Linux-HOWTO/ > > > > > > That one elicited about the loudest flamefest I've ever seen, in > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you can find that thread in their archives, > > > and stand to wade through it all, you might find your > answers there. > > > > I've been slowly wading through it. I honestly didn't find > anything > > offensive in the document. I guess I should re-read it > after I finish > > reading the flameage. > > Reading this article I found it not so much offensive as just > lacking some > important basic facts. For example, in the section about why > there are so > few women in technology, there are several reasons listed, > most of them > placing the blame on men in some way. I'm not saying that > these reasons > are not valid, but I believe there is a bigger reason. > Women (in general) are just not that interested in technology and > computers. My university has programs to encourage women to > enroll in > engineering and women tend to be favoured for jobs here but still the > percentage of female engineering students is less than 5%. > Why is that? > No idea but certainly not because they are being "driven out". Every > effort is made to attract them to engineering and CS but > there are just > not that many interested. > > Another thing that bothers me in the article is when specific > posts on > mailing lists are pointed out which contain sexist remarks > and used to > make generalizations about that community. The fact is that every > community has assholes. This is the consequence of a largely > unmoderated > medium and really can't be avoided. > > my 2 canadian cents > ~leo >
I have read many more unpleasant posts towards people who use Microsoft products than towards women. This list is no exception. Ok, this is a linux list, but my point is, while D-U may be gender friendly, there are still strong prejudices and some people do not hesitate before making blatently unhelpful snide comments based on those prejudices. matt
