On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 9:13 AM, Leigh Thelmadatter osamadre@hotmail.com wrote:
I dont think the issue is the idea of encouraging projects that increase the participation of women, but rather the message that everything else is getting shoved aside.
I don't see how you can come to this conclusion. His entire e-mail is explaining why no effort should be expended on the gender gap. It seems as if the grant initiative is simply the proximate motive for explaining why the gender gap is not a problem and working to address it is harmful and insulting. I did not describe that position as sexist, and I couldn't confidently assert that it is. It is, however, ignorant.
Perhaps the grants teams could have gone about this initiative in a better way - that is usually the case when it comes to WMF communication and organization. They could have set aside a specific dollar amount, or some proportion of grants over a period of time. But three months is a short period, and I find the sense of entitlement to WMF funds reflected in some comments to be troubling.