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* [[EMACS virgins joke]]
 
* [[EMACS virgins joke]]
   
These incidents were widely blogged and subsequently documented on this wiki. The degree and intensity of discussion was notably high, each incident building on the last.
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These incidents were widely blogged and subsequently documented on this wiki. The degree and intensity of discussion was notably high, each incident building on the last.
   
At the same time, [[Racefail]] was in progress in the [[Science Fiction Fandom]] and [[Media Fandom]] communities. Although not directly related to the subject of women in FLOSS, it did touch on minority/diversity issues in geek communities, and many people who were involved or reading the Racefail discussions later took part in the Women in FLOSS discussions, often using tools and resources learnt from Racefail.
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At the same time, [[Racefail]] was in progress in the [[Science Fiction Fandom]] and [[Media Fandom]] communities. Although not directly related to the subject of women in FLOSS, it did touch on minority/diversity issues in geek communities, and many people who were involved or reading the Racefail discussions later took part in the Women in FLOSS discussions, often using tools and resources learnt from Racefail.
   
The foundation of this wiki in 2008 may have contributed to the 2009 discussions, as it allowed sexist incidents to be documented in a central location and offered a resource for people to link to.
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The foundation of this wiki in 2008 may have contributed to the 2009 discussions, as it allowed sexist incidents to be documented in a central location and offered a resource for people to link to.
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== Other incidents ==
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* [[Mark Shuttleworth at Linuxcon]]
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* The discussion either coincided with or inspired the reemergence of troll [[MikeeUSA]] resulting in [[Geek feminism harassment|harassment of people involved in the geek feminism discussions]].
   
 
== Keynote presentations ==
 
== Keynote presentations ==
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* [[Angela Byron]]. ''Women in Open Source'' (June 2009 at [[Open Web Vancouver]])
 
* [[Angela Byron]]. ''Women in Open Source'' (June 2009 at [[Open Web Vancouver]])
* [[Kirrily Robert]]: ''[[Standing Out in the Crowd]]'' (July 2009 at OSCON, September at Atlanta Linux Fest, October at ZendCon)
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* [[Skud]]: ''[[Standing Out in the Crowd]]'' (July 2009 at OSCON, September at Atlanta Linux Fest, October at ZendCon, November at ApacheCon)
 
Upcoming keynotes are:
 
 
* [[Christina Haralanova]]: ''Rethink Women's Contribution to Free Software Development'' (November 2009 at [[FSCONS]])<ref>http://www.ludost.org/content/fscons-keynote-women-open-source-what-are-issues</ref>
 
* [[Christina Haralanova]]: ''Rethink Women's Contribution to Free Software Development'' (November 2009 at [[FSCONS]])<ref>http://www.ludost.org/content/fscons-keynote-women-open-source-what-are-issues</ref>
   
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== Press coverage ==
 
== Press coverage ==
   
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* June:
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* [http://www.osbr.ca/ojs/index.php/osbr/issue/view/86 Open Source Business Resource special issue on Women in Open Source]
 
* August:
 
* August:
 
** [http://lwn.net/Articles/348459/ FSF to host a mini-summit on women in free software] (LWN)
 
** [http://lwn.net/Articles/348459/ FSF to host a mini-summit on women in free software] (LWN)
 
* September:
 
* September:
 
** [http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/features/article.php/3838186/Sexism-Open-Source-Softwares-Dirty-Little-Secret.htm Sexism: Open Source Software's Dirty Little Secret] by [[Bruce Byfield]] in ITManagement website.
 
** [http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/features/article.php/3838186/Sexism-Open-Source-Softwares-Dirty-Little-Secret.htm Sexism: Open Source Software's Dirty Little Secret] by [[Bruce Byfield]] in ITManagement website.
*** This article was [http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/opinions/6843/1/ aggregated by LinuxPlanet]. There's also a [http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/29668/ comments thread at LXer].
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*** This article was [http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/opinions/6843/1/ aggregated by LinuxPlanet]. There's also a [http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/29668/ comments thread at LXer].
** [http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2009091803235OPCY Editor's Note: Sexism in FOSS] by [[Carla Schroder]] on Linux Today (first of a series)
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** [http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2009091803235OPCY Editor's Note: Sexism in FOSS] by [[Carla Schroder]] on Linux Today (first of a series)
 
** [http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/68167.html Is Sexism Rampant in FOSS?] by [[Katherine Noyes]] at LinuxInsider
 
** [http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/68167.html Is Sexism Rampant in FOSS?] by [[Katherine Noyes]] at LinuxInsider
 
** [http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2009/09/linux-foundatio.html The Linux Foundation's "Community" Doesn't Look Very Community] by [[Carla Schroder]] on her LinuxToday blog.
 
** [http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2009/09/linux-foundatio.html The Linux Foundation's "Community" Doesn't Look Very Community] by [[Carla Schroder]] on her LinuxToday blog.
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** [http://www.ruminationsonthedigitalrealm.org/portal/open-source-promotion/the-next-wave-of-feminism-crashes-on-the-foss-shores The next wave of feminism crashes on the FOSS shores]
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** [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http://www.zdnet.fr/blogs/l-esprit-libre/le-logiciel-libre-manque-de-femmes-des-femmes-reagissent-39707954.htm&prev=hp&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhhzYwjK61VTz4AYWWNIGyFgn-xXtw Free software lacks women - women react] at ZDnet.fr (originally in [http://www.zdnet.fr/blogs/l-esprit-libre/le-logiciel-libre-manque-de-femmes-des-femmes-reagissent-39707954.htm French], translated via Google)
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* October
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** [http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/10/12/1512238/FOSS-Sexism-Claims-Met-With-Ire-and-Denial FOSS Sexism Claims Met With Ire and Denial] ([[Slashdot]])
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== Personal blog posts ==
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(Please only add items that address the overall issue of women in open source)
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* April:
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** [http://jamesboston.ca/cms/?q=node/117 Open Source and sex]
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* July:
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** [http://eaves.ca/2009/07/20/women-in-open-source-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine/ Women in open source: the canary in the coalmine] (David Eaves)
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== Backlash/dissent/etc ==
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* [http://thebeezspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/09/feminisms-dirty-little-secret.html Feminism's dirty little secret]
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* [http://thebeezspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/09/successful-women-in-foss-and-it.html Successful women in FOSS and IT]
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* [http://wayofthemonkey.com/index.php?date=2009-09-27&month=09&year=2009 Sexism, Generally]
   
 
== Outcomes ==
 
== Outcomes ==
   
The discussion partly or mostly inspired the creation of several geek feminist and related initiatives:
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The discussion partly or mostly inspired the creation of several geek feminist and related initiatives:
   
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* [[RailsBridge]] (founded April, after [[CouchDB talk]])
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* [http://blog.nicksieger.com/articles/2009/04/30/stand-and-be-counted Stand and be counted] (pledge for allies to stop condoning sexism in the FLOSS community)
 
* [[Python community diversity list]] (founded July)
 
* [[Python community diversity list]] (founded July)
 
* [[Geek Feminism blog]] (founded August)
 
* [[Geek Feminism blog]] (founded August)
 
* [[FOSS Women planet]] (founded September)
 
* [[FOSS Women planet]] (founded September)
 
* [[FSF mini-summit on Women in Free Software]] (September 19th)
 
* [[FSF mini-summit on Women in Free Software]] (September 19th)
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** [[Women in Free Software mailing list]]
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** [[flossspeakher mailing list]]
 
* [[Diversity in Open Source Workshop]] (September 26th)
 
* [[Diversity in Open Source Workshop]] (September 26th)
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== References ==
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  +
<references/>
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[[Category:2009]]

Latest revision as of 09:25, 12 July 2016

The issue of the small number of women involved in FLOSS and sub-communities, together with sexist incidents in these communities, received a very large amount of attention in 2009 due to several highly publicised sexist incidents, prominent conference presentations about the issue, and considerable press coverage.

Much of the discussion seems to have fed into further discussion, with incidents fuelling discussion, presentations and debate.

Origins

The first half of 2009 saw several sexist incidents in the FLOSS community and wider Technology industry, including:

These incidents were widely blogged and subsequently documented on this wiki. The degree and intensity of discussion was notably high, each incident building on the last.

At the same time, Racefail was in progress in the Science Fiction Fandom and Media Fandom communities. Although not directly related to the subject of women in FLOSS, it did touch on minority/diversity issues in geek communities, and many people who were involved or reading the Racefail discussions later took part in the Women in FLOSS discussions, often using tools and resources learnt from Racefail.

The foundation of this wiki in 2008 may have contributed to the 2009 discussions, as it allowed sexist incidents to be documented in a central location and offered a resource for people to link to.

Other incidents

Keynote presentations

In 2009, there were several keynote presentations on the issue at Technical conferences:

  • Angela Byron. Women in Open Source (June 2009 at Open Web Vancouver)
  • Skud: Standing Out in the Crowd (July 2009 at OSCON, September at Atlanta Linux Fest, October at ZendCon, November at ApacheCon)
  • Christina Haralanova: Rethink Women's Contribution to Free Software Development (November 2009 at FSCONS)[1]

Although conference presentations about women in FLOSS are not uncommon (see Unicorn Law), the number of keynote presentations in 2009 was unprecedented, showing an increased interest in the subject.

Press coverage

Personal blog posts

(Please only add items that address the overall issue of women in open source)

Backlash/dissent/etc

Outcomes

The discussion partly or mostly inspired the creation of several geek feminist and related initiatives:

References