[hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?

[Madelynn Martiniere]

You hit the nail on the head here.

The majority of female visitors to hackerspaces that have been victims 
to a variety of insulting and harassing behaviors have left without 
comment or complaint. Once an environment has been made uncomfortable 
once, there's no likely reason to return.

Having some sort of public policy denouncing such things doesn't mean 
that it won't happen, but a) it does alert potential instigators of the 
behavior that there will be consequences and b) encourages those who 
have been victims to that behavior to speak up knowing that there will 
be consequences. This in turn creates a safer environment.

> Al Billings <mailto:albill at openbuddha.com>
> January 26, 2014 7:56 PM
> You mean one that someone said something about. How do you know that 
> female visitors haven’t simply failed to return because of leering, 
> mainsplaining, or various other behaviors? You don’t. The fact that 
> you’re unwilling to even state a public policy against such things 
> mean that when (not if but when) they happen, women won’t necessarily 
> assume that the person is an outlier but that it is accepted behavior. 
> Then they leave.
>
> Really, it is like Diversity 101 here. You’ve never bothered to think 
> about any of this stuff before from something other than your own 
> point of view, have you?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Red Davies Red Davies <mailto:noiddicle at gmail.com>
> Reply: Hackerspaces General Discussion List 
> discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org <mailto:discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org>
> Date: January 26, 2014 at 7:56:18 PM
> To: Hackerspaces General Discussion List 
> discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org <mailto:discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org>
> Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?
> -- 
> Al Billings
> http://makehacklearn.org
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
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> Red Davies <mailto:noiddicle at gmail.com>
> January 26, 2014 7:56 PM
> So, I can answer that question easily.
>
> When people walk into the space they are always welcomed.  You know, 
> by an individual and not a fucking sign.  We welcome them, ask them 
> what their interests are, introduce them to people who have similar 
> interests, give them the 2c tour, get them to sign a waiver and 
> GENUINELY welcome them in on the basis that they are breathing[0] and 
> interested in the same stuff we are.
>
> A sign is worthless if you don't have a community that lives it.
>
> If you have a community that lives it then the sign is redundant.
>
> We've had one case of lecherous behavior towards a female guest.  We 
> made **him** the prey.  Once he became prey he learned **WHY** his 
> behavior was unacceptable (and we never saw him again).  That's a 
> two-for-one!
>
>
>
> Red
> [0] To be clear, zombies would probably be welcome too - we've just 
> not tried recruiting any by, you know... hanging out in graveyards, 
> political rallies etc...
>
>
>
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> matt <mailto:matt at nycresistor.com>
> January 26, 2014 7:43 PM
> Al if I put up a sign for everything I though that was wonderful I'd 
> have no room for windows... or doors... I'd be trapped in a self 
> designed prison unable to see the world beyond my own ideals.
>
>
>
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> Al Billings <mailto:albill at openbuddha.com>
> January 26, 2014 7:42 PM
> How about making it less about *you* and more about all the other 
> people that might feel unwelcome or apprehensive going into a 
> hackerspace? I get it that you’re comfortable walking in, doing your 
> thing, etc. This isn’t about *your* feelings or how welcome *you* feel.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: matt matt <mailto:matt at nycresistor.com>
> Reply: matt matt at nycresistor.com <mailto:matt at nycresistor.com>
> Date: January 26, 2014 at 7:43:31 PM
> To: Al Billings albill at openbuddha.com <mailto:albill at openbuddha.com>
> Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?
> -- 
> Al Billings
> http://makehacklearn.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> matt <mailto:matt at nycresistor.com>
> January 26, 2014 7:41 PM
> Al, you might just put up a sign that says, no cross burnings on the 
> lawn.  I mean it's important for people to know your hackerspace is a 
> lynching free location.
>
> I am going to go with the german on this one.  Do you have such a huge 
> problem with harassment that you need to put up a sign?
>
>
>
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> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
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-- 
Madelynn Martiniere
Community Engineer. Entrepreneur. Geek.
LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/madelynnmartiniere> | Twitter 
<http://www.twitter.com/creativetaboo>| Email <mailto:madelynn at women2.com>

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