I think it is relevant to our understanding of how the gender gap developed on WMF wikis.
While I don't believe most early WMF users were misogynists, I think a significant portion of them came from work environments where lack of women was accepted as normal. So, noticing and addressing the problems from lack of female editors was not a high priority. This incident at dell reminds us of the historical issues that caused the gender disparity to become entrenched on WMF projects.
It is one of the best explanations I found for the gender gap. Its not the complete reason, but does explain some aspects of the situation. IIRC, independent and me, Sue came up with similar thinking that she posted somewhere during Strategic Planning process several years back.
Sydney Poore
Not sure what this has to do with Wikis, but its pretty sad all the
same. It was a month ago, and not nearly enough has been made about
it.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31322_3-57431869-256/why-we-need-to-keep-talking-about-women-in-tech/
it is getting fresh coverage on reddit too. Not sure why its revived,
but it cant hurt to draw extra attention to this.
http://www.reddit.com/r/business/comments/tk24s/dell_denmark_had_wellknown_danish_misogynist/
On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 12:20 PM, Sarah Stierch <sarah.stierch@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dell held their annual summit this week in Europe. They hired a moderator
> for the opening day named Mads Christensen who is a media personality that
> is described as "very conservative" and this also is regarding his views
> towards women.
>
> Excerpts from a blog by a woman who attended:
>
> " So here I am at Dell’s huge and very professional summit with founder
> Michael Dell, top people from Microsoft and Intel, impressive power points,
> expensive commercials, matching polyester ties and all that jazz, and then
> the – by Dell chosen – moderator starts to rejoice the lack of women in the
> room. “The IT business is one of the last frontiers that manages to keep
> women out. The quota of women to men in your business is sound and
> healthy” he says. “What are you actually doing here?” he adds to the few
> women who are actually present in the room. "
>
> " Dell’s moderator continues talking about his two Rolex watches and he then
> presents the next speaker from Intel. After the break Mads Christensen
> shares with us his whole “show” about the bitchy women who want’s to steal
> the power in politics, boards and the home. “Science” he calls it and
> mentions that all the great inventions come from men. “We can thank women
> for the rolling pin” he adds. And then the moderator of the day finishes of
> by asking all (men) in the room to promise him that they will go home and
> say “Shut up bitch!”."
>
>
> http://elektronista.dk/kommentar/dresscode-blue-tie-and-male/
>
> I feel sick to my stomach.
>
> -Sarah
>
>
> --
> Sarah Stierch
> Wikimedia Foundation Community Fellow
>>>Mind the gap! Support Wikipedia women's outreach: donate today<<
>
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--
John Vandenberg
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