[hackerspaces] Women in Makerspaces

[spider]

On 17.01.2013 14:43, Melissa Hall wrote:
> I have gone back and forth on talking about this.  Mostly because a
> lot of what I have to say is very personal. And I hesitate to talk
> about such things in "geek space" without data to backing.  I am
> speaking only to women because it is the only thing that is unusual
> about be as a maker.  Other diversity groups such as race, language,
> culture and economic background are very important but I can't speak
> to them intelligently.  I am also not discussing issues of gender
> identification or queerness because I don't really have much to say
> about that either.
>
> I generally find places with less than 15% or so women become
> uncomfortable.  I don't know quite why but that seems to be a tipping
> point for me.
>
> I also know that, for me, there is a kind of "hacker culture" "macho"
> that also works poorly for me.  That is the idea that focus and time
> is the measure of value.  The values I prefer in space to feel
> comfortable are "taking care of each other", which can sometimes rub
> rugged individualists the wrong way, but which I have also always
> felt is a deep part of the geek/hacker/maker culture we all share.
>
> I know I feel I failed my own space.  Or at least I feel like I have.
>  For me this feels like it happened in two moments.
>
> The first was in the bylaws meeting.  I wanted leadership to be my
> nomination from someone else.  That got changed to encourage
> self-nomination.  Someone said "I don't think you should be a leader
> if you are not willing to ask for it".  I didn't fight that and have
> regretted it ever since. 
>
> My experience with community groups is that, in general, those who
> support leaders who proclaim their leadership have fewer women.
>  Groups where leadership is something that is affirmed by members of
> the group tend to have more women.  I have theories as to why but
> no data.  I just know that for me it is FAR easier to accept a
> nomination than to nominate myself.
>
> The second was the most recent.  I stepped down from leadership in my
> space early.  It was the right thing for me because I am preparing
> for a move and I did not want to leave abruptly at an important
> transition point.  However I deeply regret not having this discussion
> about visible diversity in leadership at the time.  Our space is
> still new, and I have hopes it will change, but having no visible
> diversity in leadership is a concern.  On the other hand the team
> that is there does a great job and really made things happen.
>
> We are not country clubs, I don't want our membership to look like we
> are. If making is about sharing not being diverse is a serious
> failure.  If you want girls you really do need women.  I don't have
> any real answers here, but I am glad it is a topic of discussion.  


Hi! A question, what exactly do you want to know from other women? If 
they also feel uncomfortable when there's less than 15% or so women? Or 
what values we seek in makerspaces/hackerspaces? If other women think 
they can take leadership? Or if they actually would like to take 
leadership? Or if we need another women to take leadership? Or... all of 
the above?!

Grtz,
Spider