[OSGeo-Discuss] Diversity in FOSS4G

[Jeff McKenna]

Thank you for sharing these personal stories Vicky.

There are so many different cultural factors at our FOSS4G events around 
the world.

How can we make sure that FOSS4G events are both diverse and inclusive?

I think the first step is always to try contacting the FOSS4G local 
committee directly.  And if you are concerned of a FOSS4G event but 
don't know who to contact, just send me a quick email and I'll forward 
you the direct contact.  In the case of FOSS4G-Asia, I would forward you 
to Nimalika from OSGeo-Sri Lanka, who has been so kind to listen and 
take the advice back to her local organizing committee, where they can 
discuss and make the necessary changes.

I also feel that old-school talking directly is still very important, 
and look forward to speaking directly of these issues with leaders 
Malena, María and others in Dar es Salaam.  This is why I hop on a plane 
for a 40 hour trip, to work together on these issues so we can all 
continue to create great FOSS4G events of all sizes.

-jeff




On 2018-08-13 12:57 AM, Vicky Vergara wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> I went to the last FOSS4G Asia in Hyderabad, India, within IIIT 
> university premises.
> There I met wonderful students.
> I was actually impressed with a particular female student, very bright, 
> and with lots of ideas to tell.
> 
> I invited her to eat out.
> She could not go out of the university, because her father had forbidden 
> her to go out of the University premises.
> I asked, where is your father?
> She told me he lived about 300km to the north, and that when she needed 
> to go out, he would drive to take her to where she needed to go.
> 
> Culture: not obey the (family/religion/legal) rules is not an option.
> She follows the rules, she is obedient.
> 
> What do you expect for woman who live that kind of culture, that we 
> don't understand, not even a 1%?
> If woman like her, get invited to be a keynote speaker, what is the 
> probability for her to go?
> 
> Can you fight a culture that is completely different to occidental cultures?
> Can you fight that culture, sitting in front of your computer, in 
> England, USA, Mexico?
> 
> What would you tell her if you had that conversation?
> In my particular case, I told her:
> I am sure my father has the same concerns as your father, that is why he 
> came with me.
> 
> And we ate in the University.
> 
> I invited my father, I paid his airplane ticket, hotel, food, souvenir, etc.
> The reason that I invited him is: I wanted to fit in the culture as much 
> as possible.
> When passing through customs, he was called, and he had to do the talking.
> When going shopping or eating, the cashier first interaction was 
> directed to him.
> 
> I can't fight a culture, I have to blend in.
> 
> But I am glad that, this student's father is letting her study.
> And maybe, in the future, she will have daughters that will go to the 
> University and they will be able to go out of the University premises to 
> eat.
> And she will have grand-daughters that will can go out of the country 
> (without a chaperon) and be speakers.
> 
> Regards
> Vicky
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, Aug 12, 2018 at 6:19 PM, Ben Caradoc-Davies <ben at transient.nz 
> <mailto:ben at transient.nz>> wrote:
> 
>     On 12/08/18 21:14, María Arias de Reyna wrote:
> 
>         No, this is not a dismissal based on opinions. It is based on facts.
>         This paper falls into the "correlation does not imply causation"
>         fallacy:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation
>         <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation>
> 
> 
>     Yes, but lack of correlation refutes causation. That is their point:
>     gender equality does *not* cause equality of STEM gender outcomes.
> 
>     Science requires humility. There is no greater experience in science
>     than refuting your own hypothesis because it means that you might
>     have discovered something non-obvious. The obvious hypothesis in
>     this study was that equality of STEM gender outcomes would improve
>     with gender equality. Their surprising discovery is the opposite.
>     While there is much conjecture as to the cause, the core finding is
>     remarkable, good science, and worthy of publication (in my
>     uninformed opinion as a layman).
> 
>     Kind regards,
>