Sing it sister!! Errr...Chris. :)
1) Who are you and where did you come from??
2) Can we grow more of you???
A few random thoughts (and I fear it's too late to be making sense,
but I really want to respond to your amazing post)...
my view of diversity -- of what diversity is -- is actually itself diverse
and contextual
This is exactly right. Diversity *must* be contextual -- one
conference's diversity is another's homogeneity.
I went to a girl's school in New England after growing up in
Kansas. Arriving on campus was literally like stepping into a
Benetton commercial for me. I was suddenly surrounded by rich, poor,
black, white, brown, gay, straight, bi, trans, jewish, muslim,
catholic, presbyterian, american, foreign (not intended as a slur; I
simply cannot name ALL the countries represented), etc., etc., etc.
However, I soon learned that a little diversity does *not* go a long
way. Several groups on campus were constantly petitioning to
students, faculty, and staff... There can (and should) always be more
diversity in any group.
Though I'm speaking mostly of physical diversity, Chris makes the
brilliant point that even in an otherwise homogeneous group, there
will always be diverse *needs* among the members of said group.
Again, diversity is contextual.
The lack of women is, admittedly, a different topic...
Berislav, I disagree. Addressing the concerns of gender diversity are
no different than any other type. The question is HOW. I'm not sure
how to be more accommodating, or how to value the kinds of special
contributions women make. But I do think Chris is on to something
with the example of Liz Henry BarCampBlock.
If I may talk specifically about conferences and similar events, I
believe that the primary way to engender diversity is to be diverse
from the get-go. Two of the four five members of the BarCampBlock
planning team were women. Just like Liz made the planning team aware
of accessibility and child care, I think her and Tara's involvement
led to a much more diverse attendee list. Can't prove it of course,
but I know it encouraged me to not only attend but also really be
present for the event.
Another mini-case study -- I'm planning a three-day event for my
company and our top clients. It's an annual conference with the usual
showcase of keynotes, presentations, panels, and entertainment. This
is my first year to handle the planning from start to finish, and it's
shaping up to be much different than previous years. There is a
subtle, and natural, difference in the range of topics, speakers, etc.
simply because I'm organizing it, not my (wonderful, but) male boss.
Diversity is not something that can be achieved, much like the
rainmaker who makes rain once as a happenstance and then fails to
invoke the weather again. Diversity is a process and a mindset. It
exists in the negative spaces of social convention. It is something
that makes open communities like ours stronger and better and it
certainly isn't always obvious.
Just want to say that this is a beautiful paragraph, and I think your
whole message would be a wonderful blog post! We (the tech world, and
the world in general) need more people talking about this. I always
find myself stuck smack-dab in the middle of things, riding the fence
and trying to comment when/where possible. I'm rich (well, in the big
scheme of things) and white, but also a gay woman. Somehow the rich
and white always outweigh the gay and female in my mind. I have a
hard time considering myself a minority, even though I know it to be
true. I guess that is definitely one benefit of being able to call
Smith College my alma mater, and San Francisco my home.
Now, off to bed! And here's hoping my kids grow up to be as
thoughtful as Messina! :)
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