Trying not to do any community engagement this month, but this is such high priority, and I can't stay silent.
I'm so utterly heartbroken and disappointed to find out that there is a PyCon someplace 2018, and that it has 22 all male speaker lineup.
I'm so utterly heartbroken and disappointed to find out that there is a PyCon someplace 2018, and that it has 22 all male speaker lineup.
This is the second occurrence this year. The first one was in February at other PyCon anotherplace. After I reached out to the organizers privately, they added two women speakers last minute.
Why is this still happening? I don't want to hear invalid excuses. I want accountability. What have you tried? Did you reach out? Did you offer financial aid? Mentorship? Did you encourage the minorities to apply?
These are the invalid excuses I keep hearing:
1. "Women didn't apply"
You can't leave this to chance. The odds are against it. You have to actively be on the lookout, encourage and invite women and minorities to apply. #InvalidExcuse
1. "Women didn't apply"
You can't leave this to chance. The odds are against it. You have to actively be on the lookout, encourage and invite women and minorities to apply. #InvalidExcuse
2. "There's no women here"
Liar! Your lineup features male speakers from all over the world. You could have invited women from all over the world. #InvalidExcuse
Liar! Your lineup features male speakers from all over the world. You could have invited women from all over the world. #InvalidExcuse
3. "We don't know many women"
It is your own responsibility to expand your limited network. You have to earn women's trust. You can't just sit and hope that women will join you. Ask, invite, and welcome them to your space! #InvalidExcuse
It is your own responsibility to expand your limited network. You have to earn women's trust. You can't just sit and hope that women will join you. Ask, invite, and welcome them to your space! #InvalidExcuse
4. "Oh we do have women speakers, they're just not in the schedule yet"
One week before the conference? What, women won't sell tickets so you didn't bother featuring them early enough? #InvalidExcuse
One week before the conference? What, women won't sell tickets so you didn't bother featuring them early enough? #InvalidExcuse
By not featuring women speakers, you're setting bad precedence and giving excuse to other conference organizers for inaction. "Oh, even that PyCon with 500 attendees couldn't get female speakers. What chance do we have?" #InvalidExcuse
By not featuring women speakers, you're denying the opportunity where the women on stage can inspire other women in attendance.
I expected better from a conference that bears the name "PyCon". There are many members of this community who have worked hard to make this space more inclusive and diverse. To know that their hard work was not enough to inspire other organizers to do the same.. 💔
It shouldn't always be the women and the minorities that always have to speak out about this.
Conference organizers are especially in place of power, they are the ones making decisions of who's speaking at their conference.
Conference organizers are especially in place of power, they are the ones making decisions of who's speaking at their conference.
It really hurts to find out that something I consider as a high priority is not at all a priority for others. It makes it even harder to fight. It's so discouraging.
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Feels like there should be a PEP about all of this. Not sure what the PEP would look like, just feels like there should be one already. 🤷🏻♀️
