On Fri, 2005-08-19 at 12:54, Raj Mathur wrote: > > OK, so in your opinion why are there so few women? Is it an innate > issue with perceived geekiness? Or something specific to this list > (or User Group) that keeps them distant? Or do we need to perform > some specific tasks or activities that would get more women > interested? >
Well, I can't claim to have the answers myself- I too am exploring, and not "accusing"...And though I can't describe myself as a geek by any stretch, but yes, I do think it is larger than being limited to this specific list. (Lists like linuxchix and grlls-only also mention these things- almost the reason for their existence...) But yes, I have been on this list for a few months, and have not heard anyone actually mention it as a loss- the fact that there are no 'active' women on the list. So I want to know if you guys have ever at any point felt the need for a gender equitable representation on the list? If yes, what steps have you taken to find out the reasons- and try to make it convenient and comfortable for women? I can say what makes me uncomfortable about posting on this list- (i) nobody seems to find anything wrong in a list like this (and is it true for the LUG also? I have not been around long enough) running without active women participants. Just the all-male comfort makes women uncomfortable. (ii) frankly, very often the language is initmidating and 'male'. Like i said, I am not a geek, but yes, I am interested in GNU/Linux. I have no technical background, but I happen to be doing the System Administration for my workplace- works entirely off GNU/Linux- small network of 13 terminals- LTSP, Red Hat. We don't have a "techie" in house- I have been doing the troubleshooting for sometime now, with off-site help from our consultant. I have found no problems with his language (and couple of other people I know who are into GNU/Linux). Obviously, someone in my situation could use all the help and support from a list like this, if only they felt comfortable posting... With the ILUG-D list, it makes me feel like I have wandered into an old boys' gang... What is 'male' about the language and atmosphere?- I think you will have to find out for yourselves- perhaps talking to 'geeky' women you know who have been/are on the list? On the other hand, if you all think its fine as it has been, it can continue as it is.... Regards, Hassath _______________________________________________ ilugd mailinglist -- ilugd@lists.linux-delhi.org http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/ilugd Archives at: http://news.gmane.org/gmane.user-groups.linux.delhi http://www.mail-archive.com/ilugd@lists.linux-delhi.org/
