If the numbers are not what we want them to be, if the percentage has plateaued
or regressed, then I don't think it's enough to be merely concerned, even
if we're extremely concerned. There are actions we can take to make sure
the numbers are exactly what we want them be, or very close. For instance,
we can make it so that a male registration opens up for each female that
registers. That may be difficult for Francis to make happen for this year,
but we should consider making it a requirement for future organizers.

/dev


On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 10:20 AM, Ross Singer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> On Nov 27, 2012, at 10:03 AM, Chad Nelson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Rosalyn,
> >
> > If we are only 17% women, when we are subset of the broader Library
> > community, which is majority women, then we are doing something wrong.
> And
> > that deeper question, what do we need to do to encourage more women to
> > participate in the community, to make the community as a whole appealing
> > and safe, is the question I am really asking.
> >
>
> I'm not entirely sure I agree with this.  The issue is less about where
> the number is now than where it's going (and how quickly).
>
> Is our (completely hypothetical) 17% up from 2006 (or whenever), when
> Code4lib started?  If so, then I'm less inclined to panic about the
> statistics and just continue working towards making the community amenable
> to more groups.
>
> If it has plateaued or regressed, then, yes, we need to be extremely
> concerned.
>
> -Ross.
>
> > Chad
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 9:57 AM, Rosalyn Metz <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >
> >> I think first we would need to do a survey of how many women are in the
> >> community.  if it turns out that this community is only 17% women then
> >> we're on target.  who knows, maybe we're actually 10% women and we're
> way
> >> above target.  in which case the real question might be "how do we get
> more
> >> women in tech."
> >>
> >>
> >> On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 9:11 AM, Chad Nelson <[log in to unmask]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Ooops. Hit the wrong key.
> >>>
> >>> So, about our presenters...
> >>>
> >>> Is it a problem that only 4 of our 33 presenters are women? Or that
> only
> >> 16
> >>> of 95 proposers were women?
> >>>
> >>> Is there something this community needs to do to encourage more women
> to
> >>> feel like they can and should speak / propose sessions?
> >>>
> >>
>



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