Sunday Sessions 2009/Reversing the Trend: Women in Open Source

From Google Summer of Code Mentor Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Discussion leader: Pinar Yanardag

  • More truth: There are between 15% and 25% women in conventional software development whereas there are 1.5% - 2.5% in FLOSS. It is clear that women in computing area is under-represented but why there are ten times less women in open source? Where this huge (gender) gap comes from? Why we are missing out the half of the potential contributors?

What we can do to encourage more women into open source?

WHY?

  • Lack of role models
  • Less friendship opportunities
  • Invisible women in computing
  • Discouraging media/tv advertisements and movies
  • Discouraging at an early age
  • Sexism

SOLUTIONS

  • Encouraging at an early age
  • Open source for social good
  • Advertise what you're doing (be visible)
  • Women: be seen and heard
  • Support non-code contributions, too.
  • Be nice to n00bies
  • Improve personal contacts
  • Positive sexism
  • Invite women to speak at events
  • Be kind
  • Don't underestimate wifes & girlfriends
Retrieved from "http://gsoc-wiki.osuosl.org/index.php/Sunday_Sessions_2009/Reversing_the_Trend:_Women_in_Open_Source"
Personal tools