[OSGeo-Discuss] Diversity in FOSS4G

Mon Aug 13 05:38:46 PDT 2018

Hi all

I appreciate this topic arising. I appreciate the efforts of the FOSS4G Dar
committee; and the reasons for their decisions. I also appreciate that the
FOSS4G Asia LOC have a different operating environment and look forward to
hearing about their drivers. And I appreciate discussion about various
factors affecting diversity and audiences. From FOSS4G Oceania experience
it’s not an easy discussion to get right - I hope we all make the best
effort we can.

I also want to avoid papering over a substantially disheartening part of
this particular e-mail conversation.

Earlier in this discussion thread a research paper was rolled out as
evidence that women choose to do STEM less; with the argument following
that aiming for levels of attendance and speakership at FOSS4G conferences
which represent the population is over-reach; and then a few people jumping
on the sciencing wagon.

So I read the paper. …and I'm puzzled that in 2018, such a work would be
latched onto and held up as truth without question. I would certainly not
try to use it as a platform to base a solid argument on.

What was more disappointing is that this work was repeatedly held up as
canon and defended, as a counter to Maria’s patient attempts to inject some
living experience into discussion about a topic on which she has invested
vast time and energy (and whose initial assessment of the work was actually
completely correct)!

A great first step to increase diversity and inclusion would be to avoid
this type of top down lecturing and engage with experience - and then
listen. To stories like Vicky’s. To the experience of Maria and Maria; to
the committee from FOSS4G Asia who have made choices for reasons we don’t
know; and from FOSS4G in Dar, who made choices for very clear reasons
because they were able to; and aimed to have a specific impact (which I
hope, has worked).

Back to lurking now..

Adam

-- 
Dr. Adam Steer
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adam_Steer
http://au.linkedin.com/in/adamsteer
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-7236
+61 427 091 712
skype: adam.d.steer
tweet: @adamdsteer

On 13 August 2018 at 21:21, Jeff McKenna <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com>
wrote:

> 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_i
>> mply_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,
>>
>>
>
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-- 
Adam Steer
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adam_Steer
http://au.linkedin.com/in/adamsteer
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-7236
+61 427 091 712
skype: adam.d.steer
tweet: @adamdsteer
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