RE: debian and women? from DWN #10
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Leo Spalteholz [mailto:leo@thewoodpecker.ca]
> Sent: Friday, 26 March 2004 1:57 PM
> To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
> Subject: Re: debian and women? from DWN #10
>
>
> On March 25, 2004 04:12 pm, Monique Y. Herman wrote:
> > On 2004-03-25, s. keeling penned:
> > > Incoming from Monique Y. Herman:
> > >> http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Encourage-Women-Linux-HOWTO/
> > >
> > > That one elicited about the loudest flamefest I've ever seen, in
> > > discuss@tldp.org. If you can find that thread in their archives,
> > > and stand to wade through it all, you might find your
> answers there.
> >
> > I've been slowly wading through it. I honestly didn't find
> anything
> > offensive in the document. I guess I should re-read it
> after I finish
> > reading the flameage.
>
> Reading this article I found it not so much offensive as just
> lacking some
> important basic facts. For example, in the section about why
> there are so
> few women in technology, there are several reasons listed,
> most of them
> placing the blame on men in some way. I'm not saying that
> these reasons
> are not valid, but I believe there is a bigger reason.
> Women (in general) are just not that interested in technology and
> computers. My university has programs to encourage women to
> enroll in
> engineering and women tend to be favoured for jobs here but still the
> percentage of female engineering students is less than 5%.
> Why is that?
> No idea but certainly not because they are being "driven out". Every
> effort is made to attract them to engineering and CS but
> there are just
> not that many interested.
>
> Another thing that bothers me in the article is when specific
> posts on
> mailing lists are pointed out which contain sexist remarks
> and used to
> make generalizations about that community. The fact is that every
> community has assholes. This is the consequence of a largely
> unmoderated
> medium and really can't be avoided.
>
> my 2 canadian cents
> ~leo
>
I have read many more unpleasant posts towards people who use Microsoft
products than towards women.
This list is no exception.
Ok, this is a linux list, but my point is, while D-U may be gender
friendly, there are still strong prejudices and some people do not
hesitate before making blatently unhelpful snide comments based on those
prejudices.
matt
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