[OSGeo-Discuss] Diversity in FOSS4G

[Jonathan Moules]

> Let me tell you something: having legal rights doesn't mean you have
> equal opportunities. Those studies are falling into the wrong
> conclusions probably because bias of the researchers.

Apologies, but that's a general dismissal of a peer-reviewed scientific 
paper, seemingly because you don't like the result. That's not how 
science works. If there is a problem with the paper (and most papers 
have a few quirks) I would suggest the correct way to refute it is to 
start by pointing out the methodological and/or statistical flaws, not 
dismissing it out of hand. If done thoroughly enough you can probably 
get a subsequent paper published via peer-review with some other experts 
in the field that refutes it which is usually good for career prospects.
Like you I would have expected more women to choose STEM given the 
opportunity, but apparently they do the opposite and so I've updated my 
world-view accordingly to fit the facts. As the saying goes: You're 
welcome to your own opinions, but facts are facts.

Anyway, we're heading off-topic. I was originally simply pointing out 
that Dar doesn't have gender diversity in the keynotes either (a point I 
maintain), and I question the unfounded assertion that 50% females in 
the industry/speakers/etc is something that is feasible given the 
research on female career preferences. I'll leave it at that.
Cheers,
Jonathan