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HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux By Val Henson
The Operating System or OS is the most important pro Why are there so few women in Linux? Women stay gramme that runs a computer. Computers must have an out of Linux for many of the same reasons they operating system to run or manage other programmes. The stay out of computing in general, plus a few rea OS performs basic tasks such as handling input and out sons specific to Linux. Many excellent books and research put to and from attached hardware devices. It keeps track papers have investigated this topic in depth, but we can offiles and directories on the disk and controls peripheral only summarise the top reasons why women avoid comput devices such as disk drives and printers. The OS also en ing as a whole. We'll also debunk some common theories sures that different programmes and users running at the about why women stay out of computing in general. same time do not interfere with each other and that unau thorised users do not access the system. Let's start by examining two of the most common expla nations why there are so few women in computing:"Women Currently, almost everyone in the entire computing just aren't interested in computers," and 'Women aren't as world uses Windows OS, Mac OS, UnixOS and other pro smart as men." The problem with the statement'Women just prietary softwares developed by IT conglomerates such as aren't interested in computers" is that it doesn't actually say Microsoft, Apple, and Sun Microsystems. This ensures anything. It is equivalent to answering the question "Why is profit to these companies to the tune of megabillion dol the sky blue?" with "The sky is just blue." The implicit argu lars. Needless to say, this set up also promotes consumer ment here is that women are genetically predetermined from conception to not be interested in computers. Very few people dependency on such companies who now have the digital are willing to say exactly that in so many words, but that is hegemony over all of us. the message behind the "just aren't" theory. If you are un willing to accept that women's lack of interest in computing For several years now, NGOs and other civil society is genetically predetermined, you need to start exploring what organisations involved in the promotion ofICT for advo cacy have been exploring the use ofopen source softwares environmental causes are involved. to counter digital hegemony. Open source refers to the us A more explicit version of this theory is that "Women ers'freedom to run a programme for any purpose; to study arent as smart as men," or any of the usual corollaries— how the programme works and adapt it to one's particular women aren't as good at some skill as men are, usually needs; to redistribute copies that will allow people to help mathematics, spatial reasoning, or logic. Newsweek regu each other; to improve the programme and share the im larly trumpets studies finding gender-related mental dif provements with the public. Isis promotes open source as ferences while ignoring the studies that find no difference at all. Frequently, other researchers are unable to duplicate an alternative to proprietary software amongst women's the results or find flaws in the original researchers' meth groups, women communicators and activist organisations ods, but those stories tend to get much less press. These in Asia and the Pacific region. studies also make no attempt to control for differences in me upbringing of men and women. For example, studies One such open source software is Linux that is a reli frequently show that women have better developed linguis able, secure, and cost-effective OS. Originally developed tic capability in some way. This is taken as proof, at least by by Linus Torvalds in 1991 at the University ofHelsinki in the press, that women are genetically predisposed to be more Finland, it is constantly developed by a team of volunteer verbal than men. But at the same time, studies also show programmers world wide and sold by several large soft t at young women are rewarded more than young men for ware companies. Its source code can be freely downloaded, verbalisation. The sheer existence of physical differences be modified and distributed by everyone. tween male and female brains is not in and of itself proof that men and women are bom with differences in mental capacity. We still need to separate what differences are This article is based on the experiences ofwomen Linux caused by genetics, and which are caused by the environ users!programmers in Australia, Britain, Canada, and ment. As a result, if you ask the experts, the only consensus the USA. on gender-related mental differences is that there is no con sensus. This is an area of ongoing research where results
44 women in action no. 1-2003 ict section
edu/-gendergap/papers/ munity and then to fit in will continue to be hotly de When he later re-measured sigcse97/sigcse97.html>. with it. Many women who bated for decades or centu the skulls' volume with in leave the field would have ries. Something else to keep compressible lead shot, he For example, while 53 stayed if they had been in mind is that similar ar discovered that much of the male. guments have been made differences in volume be percent of the male compu about many other fields— tween the skulls disap ter science (CS) freshmM It is true that this is a from medical science to edu peared. He had been subcon rated themselves as highly prepared for their feedback loop:fewer women cation—when women first sciously stuffing the skulls in computing leads to fewer began joining them. For ex belonging to white males courses, zero percent of the women in computing. It is ample, women couldn't be with more linseed than the femalethemselves CS freshmansimilarly. Butrated at important to understand doctors because they skulls belonging to women or that this feedback loop weren't physically strong non-white men. Keep this the end of the year, six out causes women to leave com enough to set broken bones, story in mind when you read interviewedthe seven female had either students an A puting, who wouldn't have would faint at the sight of studies claiming to find that left if, all other things being blood, or didn't have the some brain structure is a dif or B average. Objective rat equal, they had been men. proper bedside manner. ferent size in men and ings don't agree with most This is important because Those arguments were women's self-estimation. 1 women. personally encountered this male classmates often as abandoned when women phenomenon: Despi e sume their female counter turned out to be just as good Now that we've ad plenty of objective evidence parts leave the field because doctors and teachers as dressed some common mis they "just aren't good men. Maybe men will turn conceptions about women to the contrary, including enough." Women's low self- out to be better at compu and computing, let's look at grades, time spent on as estimation contributes to ter science than women,but the real reasons why women signments, and high place this false impression. history does not support stay out of Linux and com ment in a programming con that hypothesis. puting. I personally believe test,myselftobeatthetopofmy I still didn't consider Women are Discour that the tendencies and aged from an Early Age A good reference for behaviors I'm about to de class in college. Looking Societal pressure for the general topic of measur scribe are the result of the back objectively, it seems women to avoid computing ing differences between hu way most women are raised: clear to me that I was per forming as well or better begins at an extremely early man groups and the moti in other words, they are the age. Preschoolers already vation behind those meas than many of the far more result of gender socialisa confident men in my class. have conceptions about urements is The tion. I'm not claiming that which jobs are men s, and Mismeasure of Man by women are bom less confi which are women's. An ex Women Have Fewer Steven Jay Gould. Scien dent, or anything else, I'm cellent review of studies tists have been "proving" just observing general ten Opportunities for documenting gender role differences in the brains dencies in women and point Friendship or Mentoring socialisation from an early and bodies of groups of hu- ing out how Linux culture Like any other disci age can be found in Dr. Ellen mans for centuries, al discourages people with pline, computer science is Spertus's excellent"Why are though in hindsight, both those tendencies. Many of easier to learn when you There so Few Female Com their methods and their re the reasons I'm about to list have ftiends and mentors to puter Scientists?" paper: ^v sults were flawed. For ex also apply to other under- ask questions from and form ample, Stephen Jay Gould represented groups in com a community with. How reviews the methods of one puting or science. ever, for various reasons, scientist measuring skull men usually tend to mentor capacity in men and women Women are Less and become friends with of different races (and by Confident other men.When the gender implication, brain size and Women severely under imbalance is as large as it is intelligence). The scientist estimate their abilities in in computer science, women originally measured the vol many areas, but especially find themselves with few or ume of the skulls by pack with respect to computers. no other women to share ing them with linseed, One study about this topic is their interests with. While which is somewhat com Undergraduate Women in women have male fnends pressible, and confirmed his Computer Science: Experi and mentors, it is often hypothesis that white men ence, Motivation, and Cul harder and more difficult tended to have larger skulls. ture: 1 no. 1 200-i 45 let section L_ 46 women tn actiori ict section the progi-ammer stereotype and wll help to attract all it's even of being at the computer all types of people to Linux. more diffi day, every day. cult for a Don't Tell Sexist Jokes woman to Reasons Women Avoid Sexist jokes are the do the same Linux Specifically number one way to drive thing. Women Linux development is women out of any group, and keep silent when we see more competitive and fierce they are more common than sexist jokes because if we than most areas of program many people realize. I have protest, we will immediately Do Show Some Respect ming. Often, the only re more than once heard a man be attacked for being over ward (or the major reward) say that he doesn't make sensitive, uptight, or a Talk respectfully about for writing code is status that kind of joke, and then "feminazi." (Note: NEVER all women, not just the women you're attracted to, and the approval of your hours or minutes later, hear use the term "feminazi." It peers. Far more often, the the same person make ajoke discredits all feminists, and but to all other kinds of hu "reward" is a scathing flame, about pregnant women or trivialises the victims of the mans of all ages and appear or worse yet, no response at pre-menstrual syndrome Nazi Holocaust. Consider ances as well. If you don't do all. Since women are social (PMS). Sometime he just how ridiculous it sounds to this, women wiU tend to as ised to not be competitive doesn't realise that he made call people like Rush sume that you will treat and avoid conflict, and since a sexist joke, for example, Limbaugh "male them as badly as the people they have low self-confi 'blonde jokes" which are ac chauvinazis" and you may you're insulting and avoid dence to begin with, Linux tually "dumb women"jokes. understand why "feminazi" you. and open source in general Sometimes he tells me that is so emotionally loaded.) Don't Take the Key are even more difficult than it's okay to make a sexist most areas of computing for joke if it's true, or it's funny. The best way to fight board Away women to get and stay in What some people fail to re back against sexist jokes is This is a general prob volved in. alise is thatjokes about gen to use humor. If someone lem when teaching anyone der of any sort almost al replies to a post about the something new, but it hap Oo's and Don't's of ways make fun of women, technical achievements of a pens more often to women. Encouraging Women in and will make most women woman with "Is she single? Someone asks a question, Linux angry,regardless ofthe con reply with, "Gee, Jeff, no and instead of telling that wonder YOU'RE still sin person the answer, you take Encouraging women in text. It doesn't help to first gle." Every time a woman away the keyboard and type Linux involves both learning make a sexist joke about 'jc- men and then one about sees a sexist joke or com in the command yourself. what to do, and learning ment, she feels angry, left Don't do this! It makes it yu what to stop doing. We'll women. out, and belittled. Every much more difficult to learn present our ideas in "do" and and it makes the other per You can argue that time a woman sees a mM "don't" pairs, since having stand up against this son feel stupid and helpless. , '' only a list of things to do or women shouldn't be so sen behavior, she feels included In general, give people a a list of things not to do is sitive but even then, regard and valued. chance to learn how to do not as helpful as having less of should or should not, things themselves if they're both. Some of these sugges your comments and jokes are driving women away. If Don't Call People interested in learning. You tions may seem insultingly may think you're doing a that's not what you want, Bitches obvious to you personally, Using the word "bitch" friend a favor by fixing her but for many other people, then don't make sexistjokes. is derogatory to women, no Apache configuration while they aren't obvious. Each of If you're not sure if yourjoke is sexist, find something else matter whom the word is she's gone, but if she's try these suggestions is based referring to. I wouldn't have ing to learn how to configure on multiple real-life encoun to say. bothered to include this ex Apache, then you're not ac ters with people for whom cept that it's apparently not tually helping her. these ideas weren't obvious. Do Protest Sexist Jokes as obvious as I thought, as I Try not to dismiss any of the The next time you see have recently heard Linux Do Give Directions and ideas—these are real sug someone joking about developers use "bitch" in a gestions from real women, women on your local mailing Explain Them Clearly serious manner with appar the women you presumably list or in person, complain While it is much harder ent nonchalance. want to attract to Linux. about it. It's difficult to do for you to take the time and Also, most of these sugges this without making your patience to explain what to tions are not gender-specific, self a target for ridicule, but wamet< 47 ict section do and why, and then spell diately make a sexual ad away your chance to have a makeup, and movie stars if out the conunand to type,it's vance to a woman at a Linux fun new member of the she's involved in Linux. worth it in the long run be User Group(LUG) or online, Linux community. And even cause the other person is you're making her feel like if you still think you're miss Several women have learning and you're less she's not part of the commu ing a chance at true love, complained that all men likely to ever have to answer nity,like she's under attack, keep in mind that many seem to be able to talk about that question again. Specifi and like she is risking being women brave enough to with them is why women cally, women will feel more ostracised if she turns you show up at a LUG or your stay away from computers. confident in their own abili down or offends you. Re local mailing list will fre While it's an important issue, ties if you allow them to type member,this isn't a fnendly quently make the first move women would like to talk the command themselves. one-on-one situation where anyway. By hitting on them about something else most of she feels comfortable turn at the first opportunity, the time, and we would es Don't Make Sexual ing you down; she's sur you're scaring them away, pecially not like to be re Advances Towards rounded by the equivalent of and you're also scaring away minded of how "weird" we are Women the aforementioned huge all the other women who when we first join a group. Imagine a bar or a pub sports fans. She's trying to might have become inter Wait until she's settled in full of sports fans, fans of a fit in and be part of the ested if the first woman had and feels comfortable before game you don't know much group, and by hitting on her, stayed. bringing up the subject if about or like. Imagine that you're cutting her out of the you're curious about it. they're all taller and herd and isolating her from This goes double for stronger than you, speak in the group. women you meet over e-mail Don't Complain About a language you only halfway or on Internet Relay Chat the Lack of Women in understand, and belittle Women grow up with (IRC). You may think that Computing anyone who isn't totally fo the constant fear and aware your "Are you single?" line It's useful and con cused on their sport. Now ness of being attacked by is hysterically witty and imagine that you walk into men, and as silly as it may structive to talk about the suave, hut she's heard it a lack of women in computing this bar, wearing a shirt that seem, it colors all her inter million times. Even if you're says,"I AM NOT A FAN OF actions, no matter how safe when you are approaching it joking, even if you already from the viewpoint of the ANY SPORT." Just imagine or mundane they may seem have a girlfriend or are mar to men. women who are being left it for a minute. How would ried—don't do it. you feel? Nervous? Afraid? out of an exciting and re warding field. It's sad and Different? Out of place? Like any other human Do Act Friendly being, a woman wants to pathetic to talk about the When women aren't You begin to have a have friends and be appre lack of women in computing ciated for who she is. Every being hit on, we're often be from the viewpoint of a man teeny-tiny idea of what it's ing completely ignored, in like to be the only woman in time she gets an e-mail ask who blames his lackluster ing her on a date, she is re stead. This isn't any better. love life on the lack of a large group of men. Women new to a group of minded that she isn't viewed ten want the same things women in computing. The Keep that feeling of as part of the group, but in best way to annoy and drive stead as different, an object men want—to feel wel away women is to talk about nervousness in mind when comed, to talk about sub you read the rest of this of desire, and is certainly not jects of mutual interest, to the lack of women in com paragraph. When you imme being judged on her techni make friends. When a puters this way. Here are cal merit alone. woman says something, lis some of the more common ten and respond in a friendly reactions of a woman listen This may be hard to rnanner. Start a conversa ing to a man whine about stomach, but you need to tion and find a topic you're the lack of women in his not hit on women who both interested. Don't as field; ■ show up for Linux sume that because she's a "What am I, invisible? events, at least not right woman, she has stereotypi- Does he know I'm here?" away. In all likelihood, cally female interests or ■ "Good to hear that I exist you are NOT throwing only to serve lonely men." opinions; instead, keep an ■ away your only chance at open mind and listen for "Pathetic. You're so pa true love by not coming thetic." clues about what she is in ■ on to her immediately, terested in. Most likely, she "Then why don't you do but you are throwing has interests beyond hair. something about it instead of complaining?" 48 women In action no. 1 2003 ict section ■ "Once again, everyone relationship is reflected compliment that. ter—"Oh, well, ifyou have a assumes that only men are glory from your student and ■ Be specific. "You're good question about kernel com listening." the joy of watching another at Linux," is meaningless, pilation, she might be able ■ "Maybe I shouldn't be in person grow. "You always know which to help you better than I this field." distribution to recommend," can." When someone points ■ "What's wrong with me Don't Criticise Too is specific and therefore out my capabilities in this manner, it's indescribably that I'm here and other Much meaningful. ■ wonderful. women aren't?" Women are socialised Be appropriate. Don't ■ "He's so self-centered." to be far more sensitive to compliment a kernel devel You almost certainly ■ "No wonder he doesn't criticism than men, as well oper on installing Linux. shouldn't compliment her on have a girlfriend." as more critical of them Don't compliment a gimp de ■ her hair, her face, her body, "Not only am I in a meat selves. As a result, women veloper on her use of layers. or her sweet temperament. market, I'm the chopped are far more likely to be Be sure that your compli If she's interested in Linux, liver." driven offby heavy or unfair ment actually reflects a sig she is, by definition, a geek, criticism than men. When nificant accomplishment As you can see, not only rather than demonstrating and probably wants to be you're tempted to criticise, complimented on her intel does whining about the lack try to remember that abso your ignorance of her level of women make you annoy ligence, abilities, and hard lutely no one was born of expertise. ing to women, it also makes ■ work. Compliment her on knowing how to compile a Compare to yourself. If the women who are here installing Linux for the first kernel and that at one point, she learned bash scripting more likely to leave. In no time, on her customised you didn't know anything more quickly than you did, case does it result in a desktop, on her intelligent about Linux, either. People tell her so. Say,"Wow, you woman being more likely to and interesting questions will lose interest in some learned bash scripting after date you. during the last meeting. A thing if they perceive them X months. It took me 2*X compliment on anything selves as being bad at it, so months to learn that." Or if Do Encourage Women else is inappropriate and if you want someone to con she made a silly compilation will be seen as a sexual ad in Computing tinue being interested in mistake, tell her about your Instead of complaining worst compilation mistake. vance, and will make her Linux, don't criticise her so feel more uncomfortable and about the lack of women, much that she believes she When she learns that her less confident. start doing something about isn't any good at it. mistakes are not unusual, it. Take women's complaints she'll feel better. ■ Don't invite Only Male seriously, read the studies Do Compliment Compliment before you on why women avoid com criticise. If you do have a Speakers Women have much puters, math, and science in constructive piece of criti If all your speakers are lower self-confidence than general, and find ways to cism, it's a good idea to start always men, women will no men on average, and will tice and not feel welcome. help encourage women. Be generally judge themselves out by telling her what she encouraging and supportive did right. Role models people can iden far more harshly than any ■ Compliment and don t tify with are important to when other people discuss outsider. Compliments help the reasons why women are criticise. Don't always follow staying interested in a field. improve her self-confidence, being driven out of comput- which in turn keeps her in a compliment with a criti cism. More often, compli Do Ask Women to ing. If you have the oppor terested in the subject. If tunity, try to mentor ment her and be done with Speak she believes that she's not It's surprisingly easy to women. Mentoring means good at Linux, she'll prob it. ■ Don't brag. Saying, out of find technically brilliant fe guiding, encouraging, and ably stop working on Linux. counseling someone in their the blue, "She can compile male computer scientists education and career. Not her own kernel!" and beam willing to come speak to your The following are some ing fondly upon her is not group. If you explain that everyone is capable of guidelines for compliment complimentary; it's brag you are trying to encourage mentoring, and it's difficult ing anyone: to find compatible mentors ■ ging about her abilities as if women in computers, many Be sincere and truthful. If you are responsible in some and mentees, but when it you really think her pro women will be even more way for her success. Parents does work out, the results gramme is an ugly piece of likely to speak at your event. are especially prone to brag can be spectacular. Don't, garbage, don't tell her that Women speakers are prob ging. Pointing out her exper however, think of mentoring you admire its syntactic ably the number one way to as a way to find a girlfnend beauty. Find something you tise in an unobtrusive and get women to come to your —all a mentor gets out of the can honestly admire and subtle manner is much bet event. They will be able to 49 v. ict section see a role model, ask her endlessly rehashing the dis Don't Make New People women become interested in questions about her experi cussion about binary-only Feel Unwelcome Linux or computing, start ences, and for a few hours Nvidia modules. If a new person shows making friends and meeting at least, make her feel that up and all the established people in the field, and be Don't Make Your she is not the only woman people refuse to talk to or cause there are so few who's interested in comput Meetings Hard to acknowledge the new per women in the field, we ers. Be sure that when you Attend son, the new person is un unsurprisingly often have do invite a woman speaker, About the worst LUG likely to come back. Most little difficulty finding a per you advertise the event well, meeting possible: 10 p.m. on likely, everyone is just too son to date in the same field. especially to women. Monday night, in a ware shy to say hello, but that Don't conclude that because house downtown, the un doesn't make any difference. most women in Linux are One woman says that marked entrance is in a de Additionally, if other mem dating or are married to she noticed her LUG paid serted and poorly lit alley bers immediately attack or someone also involved in less attention to and was way,and no public transport challenge orjust ignore eve Linux, that women are only ruder to women speakers. is nearby. Oh, and we're rything the newcomer has to interested in Linux because She thought it might be be serving pizza and cheap say, she won't be interested of that relationship. For cause the members dis beer. Did I mention we're in returning. many women, interest in missed the possibility of her going out to a sports bar af Linux predates their current knowing anything they Do Help New People relationship. 1 personally didn't already know.Be sure terward? Get Involved became interested in Linux not to let this happen to your Do Make Meetings Easy while I was dating an Eng women speakers. Ask new people to in to Attend troduce themselves and talk lish major who wouldn't Don't Micro-specialise As usual, following about their own projects and know an operating system if it walked up and bit him. Maybe you and your these suggestions will make interests for a bit. Try more your meetings more attrac fidends are perfectly happy to informal meeting styles— tive to everyone. Try to One of the LinuxChix show up to your local LUG instead of a speaker and a schedule your meetings at silent audience, have a reports that her first invita and talk about the same top family and school friendly panel question and answer tion to speak at a conference ics every week, but for what times—not too late in the session or a round table dis was as a member of a panel ever reason,few women have evening. Make sure your cussion. Let members speak entitled "Wives of Hackers." the endless interest in minu meeting is in a safe, well-lit for a few minutes on their The prominent open source tiae that men often display. place with easy access to own projects, so new people celebrity who suggested the Try not to have all your public transportation, if who share their interests panel didn't understand speakers talk about micro- your city has any. If you why she was insulted. After specialties, or always discuss know who to talk to. If you want new people to attend, have someone who doesn't all, her own work in open the same areas of robotics. the meeting place should be mind speaking to strange source was apparently insig clearly marked and easy to nificant compared to being Do Discuss Broader people, ask them to serve as find. If you serve food or host and welcome new peo the wife of a famous kernel Topics drink, try to vary the menu ple to the group or mailing hacker. Arrange for speakers a bit. After an informal sur list. on a wider range of issues vey, we discovered that Do Treat Girlfriends and than just technical spe women tend to prefer sand Don't Underestimate Wives as Independent cialties. Women tend to be wiches,fruit, and vegetables Girlfriends or Wives People more interested in political instead of pizza. Chinese Many women involved Girlfriends or wives of and social issues surround takeout is one way to easily in Linux or computing are people interested in Linux ing computing, and women provide a variety of different also dating or are married to also have their own lives and also tend to have a broader food. Consider having a veg men with similar interests. accomplishments, and fre range of technical interests etarian menu option. If Many people then assume quently those are also in the within computer science. members of the LUG social that the woman is only in area of Linux or open source Try scheduling a discussion ize outside meetings, try to terested in Linux because or computing. Instead of on compilers if you always do things that are welcom her boyfriend or husband is. treating her as an adjunct to end up talking about USB, ing to people of different Women are sometimes in her boyfriend or husband, or a review of the open backgrounds. troduced to Linux through a recognise that she has her source licenses instead of boyfriend. More often. own interests and areas of 50 women In action nc. 1 200.'i ict section expertise, and talk to her him hours or minutes later Vesperman, LinuxChix You can find out more about them. doing exactly what he specialises in providing a about LinuxChix at our claimed he doesn't do.I don't supportive and friendly website: