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From: grob@cmcl2.NYU.EDU (Lori S. Grob)
Newsgroups: comp.org.usenix
Subject: Re: Women's BOF in Phoenix?
Message-ID: <15396@cmcl2.NYU.EDU>
Date: Fri, 1-May-87 10:31:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: cmcl2.15396
Posted: Fri May  1 10:31:06 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 3-May-87 00:39:13 EDT
References: <148@krebs.acc.virginia.edu> <466@unmvax.UNM.EDU> <69@esquire.UUCP> <491@unmvax.UNM.EDU>
Reply-To: grob@cmcl2.UUCP (Lori S. Grob)
Distribution: na
Organization: New York University, Ultracomputer Research Lab
Lines: 47
Keywords: women BOF

>
> I have seen the point made that "men outnumber women 100 to 1" at
>the conferences. I don't think the blame lies on USENIX nor it's associated
>staff and members. More likely the finger should be pointed at the
>women themselves (how many TRY to go? how many are even in the field?).
>If there IS discrimination it sure isn't USENIX doing it. Try the
>womens' bosses who think a man can do a better job than they.
>

I was determined not get involved in this, but this one is more then I can
let go by.

Blaming the women themselves for not going is like saying there is no 
discrimination at Ivy League schools ***** (ethnic group of your choice)
people just don't apply. The point is WHY don't they go? If as you
assume the women in our field aren't interested in Usenix, the question
is why not and what can we as an organization do to remedy that and
make our membership more representative of the field in general? The 
point is not to be smug and self-satisfied and say, yes there are
women, black people, other groups in the field (not enough of them!)
and if they don't choose to come to Usenix it is not our problem.

As for how many are even in the field, I can't believe that you don't know 
about the kind of steering process that goes on in high schools and colleges
where women who are interested in sciences are steered toward "soft" sciences.

It is very similar to black families getting steered to black neighborhoods
and buildings  by real estate agents.

Blaming the victims of discrimination for the discrimination itself 
is really unforgiveable.

I am sorry for adding to an overcrowded band-width, I am NOT sorry if
I have offended anyone. All this is NOT to say that I personally have
felt discriminated against by anyone at Usenix. I HAVE FOUND THE MEN
TO BE ENLIGHTENED AND ON THE WHOLE NON-SEXIST or at least trying to be.
(and fun!)
But it is obvious that the conferences don't draw a group representative
of the field as a whole and that the field as a whole (and all the sciences)
don't have enough women and minorities.

Flame away.

Lori S. Grob (NYU Ultracomputer Project)
grob@nyu.arpa
{mcvax!seismo,floyd,harpo,ihnp4,...}!cmcl2!grob   [That's c-m-c-ELL-2]
Courant Institute (NYU), 251 Mercer St., NYC 10012,  212-460-7326