[UbuntuWomen] [ubuntu-marketing] UWN #51: "... and this evenincluded some wi

[Elizabeth Bevilacqua]

On 8/19/07, Sulamita Garcia <sulamita at linuxchix.org.br> wrote:
> That's it, no "sorry, we didn't mean it and we are
> going to be more careful", neither "we made an errata and apologize for
> it". The solution maybe happened in the backstage, but the damage was very
> public.

You are correct, there was no public apology from the UWN staff, which
is quite unfortunate but not terribly surprising given the stage
Ubuntu is in now when it comes to women. Men who speak out for women
right now are routinely attacked within the community for doing so,
ask any guy who's posted a pro-female blog entry lately. There are
still men standing up for us, but they understand that taking such a
stance is not popular and they will be required to spend some time
defending themselves.

What we need to do is continue to stand up for ourselves, like I did
when I wrote to the list. Within time we'll have more support and
these problems should go away. Perhaps even public apologies for these
things will become more common as well :)

> Maybe you see some difference because people tell you in person/chat/mail,
> but from my point of view, I saw nothing. Maybe that's because I'm no
> member  of any other Ubuntu list neither spend too much time on IRC. But
> maybe also you or other people are missing the fact that most people don't
> see personal apologies or support messages. What I see is people offending
> women in community in public, intentionally or not, and maybe supporting
> them in private. It that what you want?

I posted to the marketing list that I had received an apology from the
writer of the section, as well as posting here about all the positive
responses I received. It's unfortunate that these people won't be more
public about it, but I can't /force/ them to be. I'd rather have a
private apology than nothing, and nothing is what we'll get if we try
to push too hard :(

I did my best to tell others that this had occurred. Again, within
time people will be more likely to speak out with more public
apologies, we just need to keep chipping away at it.

I also want to encourage you and others to subscribe to more lists.
One of the best things we can do to shift the tides in Ubuntu is get
more visibly involved. My direct and very loud involvement in my LoCo
team has been transformational for the group when it comes to women,
we have several female members, and it's growing every month! So join
some more lists, hop on IRC and join the main Ubuntu channels and get
involved with the community. It'll help you get a handle on how things
in F/OSS work, and give you more insight into how Ubuntu-Women can
move forward with our goals.

> If people supporting you in private do it because they are afraid of being
> accused of "politic correctness speech" or "just because they're girls",
> that's very very sad. It is their option, but while it doesn't repair the
> bad episode, also don't count too much, in my opinion. Maybe that can
> count more for you because you're the one receiving it. But for me and
> many people lurking or just watching how it is going to be solve, it
> doesn't count very much.

It is very sad, but this is F/OSS work, which has a primary reward of
acceptance within the community and approval of your peers. Sticking
your neck out for a cause when you could be spending that time
packaging some great new piece of software isn't for everyone, and I
don't completely blame them.

- Lyz/pleia2, who has herself ducked out of the light a bit to work on
a new package

-- 
Elizabeth Bevilacqua
http://www.princessleia.com