BarCamp has a history of being a geek event -- after all, it started out in Silicon Valley.
But just because its heritage lies in computing doesn't mean that its destiny is to inherit the traditionally homogenous culture that established an industry.
Rather, the future of technology and of culture, which BarCamp should be very closely tied to, is about diversity. And every event that our community has should endeavor to be as open, as inclusive and as accommodating as humanly possible.
It's not entirely clear how one achieves diversity, especially in an event that is anti-invite and open to everyone already. But let's be realistic: being open to everyone doesn't necessarily mean that you've created an inclusive or supportive atmosphere.
So, as a community, we should tackle this problem head on and develop strategies for increasing the core diversity of the BarCamp community. We're all responsible for how diverse and rich our events are; as a community, we're in the best position to do this better than anyone else.
Please leave your suggestions, experiences or links to external proposals or ideas.
- Be more appreciative of aspects of events that help women feel more comfortable and welcomed
- Go where women are and invite them -- too often, I don't find out about events (ones where I would have applied to speak and/or attended) until after they've happened
- ...add your own
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