The Cock-Tipping Point
A couple of weeks ago I pointed out the all-male lineup of the "Future of Web Apps" Conference. I mentioned that they weren't an isolated case, and I was using them as an example of what I see as a remarkable under-representation of women at conferences.
Then last week Tokion did it again. "Creativity Now" announced their lineup last week without ONE SINGLE WOMAN in it.
This unique symposium will bring together top figures in art, design, fashion, photography, film, new media, publishing and marketing.
...by 'top figures' they meant men.
Our friends at the Wooster Collective, who are boycotting the Tokion event, put it this way:
We don't give a shit what their excuse will be (no woman were available?) - How the fuck can you put together a group of speakers that are (according to Tokion) "shaping today's popular culture" and not one of of them be a woman?
Tokion's excuses are bullshit. Basically, they contacted some women and they couldn't come. Lame. Contact more until you get some.
My friend Jen Bekman was livid and decided to do something about it. She has a great conversation about it going on on her blog, which you should go read. After Design Observer linked to it Jen started to get some traction, and has started coming up with a solution by compiling a list of potential women speakers. Go Jen.
Tokion, responded by adding more men to the list. They've since added ONE woman. Tokenism rocks.
Written by Mike Monteiro on October 9, 2006 | 
3 comments so far. Add yours below.
SH says:
The list of potential women speakers is a great starting point, but let's be honest: Suffrage didn't start by combing the nation for potential female presidents. It started by motivating people to *be involved* at the most base levels, which is just how an effort like this needs to be directed. Women in the industry and women interested in the industry need to step up as participants and attendees, not just to meet of a particular quota by being visible.
Further, women don't need their own conference, or a weekend away with other mommy bloggers disguised as a conference. Women in the tech/web/blogging world just need *integration*, that's all. But you can't force anyone into anything and you can't complain too much about the lack of presence when you can't control it. It's not up to conference organizers or the general public to come up with random women speakers to fill a void, it's more their responsibility to engage a female audience and make them passionate about participating. Everything after that will most likely evolve with little prodding.
Done and done.
October 10, 2006 11:28 AM
Jen Bekman says:
Just to be crystal clear: I am dead set against the idea of an all-women speakers conference. Not interested in separate but equal. Fully interested in demonstrating that it can be done right, and that diversity is not a path to mediocrity.
A long list of speakers is just that, a long list. I intend to move beyond that.
October 10, 2006 12:46 PM
Erika Hall says:
Sarah, I think you are dead on, Jen, I think you rock. The last thing we need is a women's auxiliary of the interactive design and publishing world.
A key way to engage a more diverse group of people is to start talking about new technologies and design innovations in the larger context, beyond who's getting funded and why (which dominates our corner of the world).
Also, I think it's a fine time to examine the one-to-many or expert-panel-to-many mode of communication that dominates these events. This type of information exchange is the most conventional and often the least compelling aspect of conferences.
Tokion has no excuse. However, they are now up to 4 women speakers.
October 11, 2006 5:11 PM