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Why women don't FLOSS

blog.milkingthegnu.org

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Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#11

Post by TheBigRedDog »

Tichy wrote: post #9

I take issues with some parts of the article: "She presents the following reasons: CS jobs are clean jobs and they don't require much physical force. It's a typical tertiary activity that can even be conducted while staying home! What's interesting is that the arguments used are well, sexist" Huh? Can somebody explain what is sexist about those arguments? Because it implies that women might have less physical strengt…

She said that in the context of "There is nothing masculine/male about CS ..." and since gender was the subject of the dscussion you don't need a huge leap of faith to accept the comment as sexist.

As to the broom work, yes it's suitable t there, although not the subject of the post...

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#12

Post by Tichy »

TheBigRedDog wrote: post #11
Tichy wrote: post #9

I take issues with some parts of the article: "She presents the following reasons: CS jobs are clean jobs and they don't require much physical force. It's a typical tertiary activity that can even be conducted while staying home! What's interesting is that the arguments used are well, sexist" Huh? Can somebody explain what is sexist about those arguments? Because it implies that women might have less physical strengt…

She said that in the context of "There is nothing masculine/male about CS ..." and since gender was the subject of the dscussion you don't need a huge leap of faith to accept the comment as sexist. As to the broom work, yes it's suitable t there, although not the subject of the post...

So why is it sexist to say "there is nothing masculine about CS"? If you say the opposite, surely it would be sexist, because it would imply that women are not made for CS. But saying "CS is not masculine" seems not sexist to me. Except that the whole question is rather uninteresting ("masculine" or not - who cares?).

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#15

Post by yummyfajitas »

TheBigRedDog wrote: post #3
yummyfajitas wrote: post #2

Hmm, I'm not buying all their arguments. From the article: "However, the extent of the problem is not funny...Almost half of the women have been asked out. " On college campuses, probably 80-90% of women have been asked out. Does that prevent women from going to college?

Yes but there are major differences: - In college you're not interacting only through the Internet - Even though you might be popular, you're not going to have that many guys asking you out. - But the main thing is at work, or when practicing your hobby, you're not expecting to be bugged very often by people probing for a relationship...

At both places I worked that had women (admittedly, both colleges), women were asked out. I'm told it's not uncommon at regular jobs either. What fraction of nurses (an 80-90% women profession) are asked out, do you think?

As far as I know, women are asked out at many hobby activities as well. I know people who have gotten dates at critical mass, rowing, the gym and some sort of "Free Palestine" club. I'm told that even church is not an unreasonable place.

This "men asking out women" problem seems quite pervasive.

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#16

Post by BrandonM »

Tichy wrote: post #8
yummyfajitas wrote: post #2

Hmm, I'm not buying all their arguments. From the article: "However, the extent of the problem is not funny...Almost half of the women have been asked out. " On college campuses, probably 80-90% of women have been asked out. Does that prevent women from going to college?

I wish I had the problem of those women (being asked out too often).

It's easy to say that, but I once went to a gay bar with some girl friends and gay friends of mine. At first the attention was somewhat flattering, but it didn't take long before the people leering at me and trying to get me to dance with them when I was uninterested really started to bother me. At that moment, I was enlightened.

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#17

Post by BrandonM »

Perhaps this will sound sexist, but in my experience, women are more critical than men, especially towards other women. And even if a particular woman does not exhibit this quality, she still expects it from others, both men and women. I'm not saying this is an inborn trait (although some aspects of it could be), but I have definitely observed it when I'm out with girl friends of mine.

Could it not be, then, that when considering the prospect of writing software and releasing it for scrutiny, an expectation of excessive criticism prevents many women from doing so?

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#18

Post by Tichy »

BrandonM wrote: post #16
Tichy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish I had the problem of those women (being asked out too often).

It's easy to say that, but I once went to a gay bar with some girl friends and gay friends of mine. At first the attention was somewhat flattering, but it didn't take long before the people leering at me and trying to get me to dance with them when I was uninterested really started to bother me. At that moment, I was enlightened.

I know what you mean, but I still think it is the better problem to have: too many wanting you vs too few.

Re: Why women don't FLOSS

#19

Post by AndyKelley »

Men and women are different; they think and act differently. I think we shouldn't make such a big deal about it. Just let the natural forces of it play out. Sexism will only prevent a woman from achieving her dreams if she lets it. Sometimes I think that people complain politically out of incompetence in the real world to just deal with it and succeed.
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