Although code4lib doesn't typically do panels, I thought this might be of interest:

"A Simple Suggestion to Help Phase Out All-Male Panels at Tech Conferences"
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/13/01/a-simple-suggestion-to-help-phase-out-allmale-panels-at-tech-conferences/266837/

-- Michael

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Ross Singer
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:02 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Diversity of presenters (was bibliotechy's fat
> fingers)
> 
> I'm more concerned about the latter ratio than the former (although we
> could probably question the demographics of the electorate, I think the
> process is about as open and fair and democratic as we can really hope
> for).  The low percentage of female proposers is really the reason why
> there are so few female presenters.  Add to it that 75% of them are
> recidivist presenters (which is, honestly, a problem that spans all
> Code4lib demographics), this doesn't do much to embiggen the tent.
> 
> I would be interested to see the gender breakdown in the CfP for
> comparable conferences (LITA National, Access) and if Code4lib's numbers
> are noticeably lower, meeting with those groups to determine why.
> 
> -Ross.
> 
> On 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?