On Sun 10/Nov/2013 22:38:36 +0100 Abdussalam Baryun wrote:
On Sunday, November 10, 2013, Melinda Shore wrote:
I don't know if the diversity group has opted not to work
on gender issues because it's just too contentious, because
regional issues are easier, because they're planning to work
on it later, because of lack of interest, ... but it's pretty
Striking
The diversity team should consider gender the first issue to work
on, I am surprised that they still not working on this.
No, wait. I agree the gender issue is important, but fail to see why
it should be considered the first issue. It is not IETF-specific, as
we share this problem with many other organizations: Female quotes
are being considered in EU public administration for years; the US had
no female presidents yet, but seems to be on the right way.
Another diversity dimension is the kind of employer that IETFers work
for. Is that question even asked in the survey? Let's not forget
that the newspaper articles that this thread stemmed from raised
specific doubts about governmental organizations and invoked the
elders' ability to counter the spooks. In turn, governments used to
be seen as a defense against unscrupulous private sector operators.
And how about NGOs? That issue is Internet-specific as it touches on
the multi-stakeholder paradigm.
All of those issues are important, and interrelated with one another
in various respects, including personal careers, equality of rights,
democracy, and Internet sustainability.
Ale