A flash mob of crafters

Dear my favourite knitters [and crocheters and crafters of all ilk] who know people all over the world,

On April 12 in San Francisco I am going to do what might possibly the scariest thing I've ever done to date. I am going to give a presentation on gender and IT at a geek conference (this part is no big deal--I love presenting). Normally this kind of talk is about grrl p0wer and computers and finger wagging about bad behaviour. My presentation is going to be different. It's a very fun look at how to make technology friendly and how we can really get more women using technology. The shock factor (and the part that is making me hyperventilate) is the part where the presentation is going to be completely blunt. Yup. I'm going to get up on stage and tell the room that my vagina is no more relevant than a penis when it comes to computers.

The talk itself is called, "Form an orderly queue, ladies." I've been working on it for months (literally). The basic description goes like this:

"A slightly raucous but very fun look at female participation in open source computing. This presentation includes a subversive tour of the well known articles and statistics about women in open source and finishes with tangible solutions that really do get more women engaged in technology. Drawing on personal experience, Emma will present you with real solutions that have worked in her community. Explore absolutely new ways of thinking about the gender gap and learn how to take the next step towards really increasing the number of women in open source computing."

Are you someone in the San Francisco area who is interested in technology? The conference lasts the full weekend and costs a measly $10 to attend. Will you come to my session and bring your knitting [and/or crochet, embroidery hoop, etc]? I would really, really appreciate it.

One of the points that I make in the presentation is that group dynamics shift when the gender balance shifts. The open source world is dominated by men. (A recent European study showed that 98.5% of all developers were male [Report in PDF format], a slightly older Japanese study shows the same numbers.) There are likely a million reasons for why this is. This presentation is not about those reasons. I care more about thinking in new ways to change the future than I care about analyzing the past. In one version of the presentation I asked the audience to count the total number of people in the room and then to double it to show what would happen if the room were 50% women. I've removed that section. I want to show it with real people instead of making it a hypothetical exercise. I want the room to be double the size because it is 50% women.

I know that not all crafters are women. Men: please bring your crafts with you. The whole notion of gender is a bit crap anyway. Don't even get me started about the time that a women-only group I was a part of nearly turned away a transvestite (in heels and the hottest red mini skirt you've ever seen) from a technical training session because she had a penis. Don't. Even. Get. Me. Started.

The conference Web site is at: http://lugradio.org/live/USA2008/
My actual speaking slot is 4PM on Saturday April 12 (45 minutes).

The actual talk has five parts:

1. who I am (context)
2. the current climate for women in open source
3. why women can make a difference (marketing to women)
4. how my conference really makes a difference to my community
5. ten real steps to change.

Praise for my crazy plan

"My fabulous friend Emma Jane, who's the tech goddess behind the scenes at many a site you know and love (the recent Crochet Me redesign, for one) is coming to SF to do a presentation. She's asked me to put the word out -- I *wish* I could be there to see the typical techie guy witnessing a bunch of knitters/crocheters filing in to the hall. Emma is *very* entertaining (she knit a Drupal-themed pair of socks, for heaven's sake), so I can vouch for the fact anything she
does is going to be 110% awesome." Shannon Okey, Knitgrrl