Like most of the technology sector, the free software community is also male dominated. Determined to change the status quo, the community is focusing on bringing more women to the fore.
International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS), an autonomous institution under Government of Kerala and Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE), an NGO promoting free software, have been conducting ‘Women Hackers,’ a project to bring more women into free software.
The programme involves intensive residential workshops on college campuses.
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It was during one such hackathon that the idea for ‘I install’ was put forward by the students of LBS College of Engineering, Kasaragod. A GNU/Linux installation camp, the event aims to promote the idea of taking control over the technology that you use.
Hackathon trainees
Those students who received training at the hackathon will be part of ‘I install’ where they impart their learning to other students.
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According to SPACE, more than 150 students from over 10 colleges have been trained so far.
Limited space
The networks for knowledge sharing were limited for women compared to men and the free software movement is providing women with opportunities for networking with larger communities of learning, says Arun M., programme head, SPACE.
As those who control technology can exert some power, the free software community hopes to bridge the gender gap in the community, he added.
The international free software conference taking place in the capital later this year is also expected to take up the theme of gender equality.
Karen Sandler to speak
The keynote speech at the conference will be given by Karen Sandler, an advocate of free software and gender equality in the tech industry. Ms. Sandler is the executive director of Software Freedom Conservancy.
She coorganises Outreachy, the award-winning outreach programme for women globally and people of colour who are under-represented in the US tech industry.