This is my post, but the other bloggers’ posts are better, IMO.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, and dinged Kai on this in my conference advisor Q&A– substituted “brother-in-spirit” for “sister-in-spirit.” http://bit.ly/moLGP Oliver, Dion, and Andy missed it…

In The 2.0 Adoption Council, we have AMAZING, intelligent, articulate, and exemplary women who can talk e20 circles around many e20 experts.  I welcome the opportunity to see more of our female members speaking at e20 conferences.  In my case, I would have loved to come to Frankfurt (and was invited many times, even expenses paid.)  But, you see my dear friend… professional women bear unusual burdens.  I am a single mother.  With all the travel I had done in the prior two weeks to San Francisco– as a Mom, not a professional career women– I chose not to go to #e20s.  My son needs me more than the e20 community, in other words. 

There have been times in my career that I refused to attend events unless the conference organizer paid for travel for my children and my nanny as well.  (I was once ballsier and more important.)  Work is fun and rewarding, but parenting trumps career opportunities.  I don’t think I’m unique in this regard.  Although, I might suggest women face this choice perhaps more often than their brotherly contemporaries.

Eine Rückfrage: Die bereits “sichtbaren” Frauen, die im Artikel und in den Kommentaren lobend erwähnt werden, würden Sie die jetzt eher der – nach Ihrer Interpretation – männlichen oder weiblichen Sichtweise zuordnen?

Falls die erwähnten Frauen eher der männlichen Sichtweise zuzuordnen wären, dann müsste tatsächlich noch mal eine ganz andere Gruppe Frauen für solche Veranstaltungen rekrutiert werden. Also sozusagen die Frau-Frauen.

Im Zusammenhang mit der Piratenpartei ist diese Diskussion ja auch bekannt. Da wird die Partei von außen – und in erster Linie von Frauen – schon mal als sexistische Männerpartei beschrieben, während die Frauen innerhalb der Piratenpartei sich verwundert die Augen reiben, dass sie von außen irgendwie gar nicht als Frauen wahrgenommen werden und sich von innen gar nicht als Frauen diskriminiert fühlen.

Having joined the KM4DEV community recently I noticed the gender issues are discussed. I did not follow it specificly, because I am used indeed to work in the IT sector – and I forgot seeing it. The  community is very colourful in all meanings, just connected by dealing with developing and transition countries and passionate about 2.0 collaboration. you may have a look at
http://www.km4dev.org/ At the last event there was a gender huddle as well.

But when thinking about the nature of participation, gender (and age) can play an important role too.  I was pleased that at the session I delivered, I received questions from @Ronna – but it was the first time that day that I recall hearing a question from a female in the audience (at least in the main room we were in).  Gender is only one factor though.  For example, I detected more questions from French-sounding participants than from German-sounding participants, even though they were in the minority.  This plays into some understanding that the nature of public expression is impacted by culture.  Which was the main theme of Mark’s excellent session.  In the E2.0 world, we have to be especially sensitive to creating an environment where people can participate in ways that work for them.  So we need to create space for that participation too.

I believe that at an E2.0 conference – the participants and their participation are the key measures.  So regardless if all the speakers are male, it is important that the participation is highly diverse.  As speakers, our role is to stimulate the thought process and evoke participation and shared learning. I look forward to future sessions where we continue to bring stimulating speakers and bright participants together in developing our field — for all who find value in the conversation.