Binary Bitches: Keeping Open Source Open to Women

SXSW Interactive 2012 has accepted hundreds of interesting panel proposals, one of which, I find to be particularly relevant in terms of women and technology. When it comes to technology, the primary sources of discussion tend to be men, not only trivializing women as technology enthusiasts/experts, but also intimidating and dissuading many of them from ever joining the conversation. “Binary Bitches: Keeping Open Source Open to Women” will present two different perspectives and experiences of women who participate in open source communities, through which they will discuss how the marginalization of women in these communities affects design development and product outcome, as well as consider strategies that may help to improve female participation in such discussions.

Moderator Andrea Hickerson (right), a journalism professor of communication at Rochester Institute of Technology, whose interests include looking at the future of journalism in regard to information technology and open source, as well as transnational political communication, hopes that this panel will make an impact on open source communities.  "I hope that this panel creates a lasting discussion about women in tech.  I hope it encourages female techies to network with each other.  I hope that projects make more of an effort to have diverse participation which will result in products/outcomes with larger appeal and effectiveness." 

Joining Hickerson in the discussion about open source, Xanthe Matychak (left) will be sharing her perspective and experiences from an educational point of view. Matychak teaches design-thinking and creativity in the Saunders College of Business and in the Innovation Center at Rochester Institute of Technology, with research interests that include sustainability, social entrepreneurship, food-shed innovation, distributed manufacturing, and design pedagogy, among others.

Sara Brown, from Oakland Green Farm and Bed & Breakfast, will also be sharing her experiences with open source communities from an industry perspective. The Oakland Green Farm and Bed & Breakfast, which is located in Loudoun County, Virginia, is not only a working beef cattle farm, but is also a rural getaway that hosts weddings and other special events.

Keeping open source open to women is a topic that needs to be addressed. It is important that women be included in the conversation, and more importantly, encouraged to do so without intimidation.