[Osmf-talk] Reaching out and diversity (Was: Re: AGM and board elections)

[John Crowley]

In my years working in communities, I keep seeing the same pattern. Someone speaks up about misogyny or other aggression in general, then someone demands specific evidence, silencing the conversation. It is often not intended, but those seeking data should realize that they need to start by listening, not challenging. And then listening more. And creating a safe space to listen even more deeply, without forcing anyone to prove or disprove a hypothesis, until we understand the other person's perspective, how they got there, and maybe how we contributed.

We as OSM need to create that safe place to listen to those who are different from where OSM started: (mostly) a bunch of European and American (white) males. We also need to become aware of the actions we can take as individuals to make that space for listening part of our daily lives. We will become richer for it. 

Pushing it off to a working group will not fix a cultural problem. We all need to commit to listening first.

John



Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 25, 2014, at 11:53 PM, Kate Chapman <kate at maploser.com> wrote:
> 
> Look, it isn't my job or anyone else from marginalized communities jobs to educate you about diversity. It is pretty simple if the OpenStreetMap community cares about diversity it is everyone's responsibility. I provided a few links previously pointing to some potential resources. 
> 
> A simple issue is within our interactions with each other. There are regular microaggressions that happen frequently(1). Saying that because everyone is treated equally rude will never lead to a diverse community. Underrepresented groups already are coming from a place of less privilege and it is unfair to expect them to adapt to an aggressive community of the privileged. 
> 
> Lately I've been thinking a lot about the idea that our goal is a "free map of the entire world" and how we often extoll that map making used to be in the hands of just a few authorities and is now in the hands of the people. If you replace authorities with privileged, privilege certainly being something that original map makers had then we actually haven't changed anything. OpenStreetMap still is a map made by the privileged. What is great though is that this is something we can change. 
> 
> I really like this cartoon on equality vs. justice. Rather than make the map "equal" which will actually be the view of a few, how can we approach it to allow everyone to participate(2)? I also think "Free as in Sexist?" is a great article regarding issues in free culture and the gender gap(3). I'm trying not to specifically speak about this issue just from the aspect of gender, though for me it is a portion of the problem that effects my very personally. 
> 
> -Kate
> 
> 
> (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microaggression_theory
> (2) http://themetapicture.com/equality-vs-justice/
> (3) http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/4291/3381
> 
>> On Fri, Sep 26, 2014 at 4:46 AM, Michael Kugelmann <MichaelK_OSM at gmx.de> wrote:
>> Am 25.09.2014 10:35, schrieb Martin Koppenhoefer:
>>> Really? Can you please point to some examples to illustrate this point, I am not sure I understand what you are referring to. I am on a lot of mailing lists and have not noticed any of these, for sure not "plenty", but maybe that's my male point of view ;-)
>> +1
>> 
>> Just my 2 cents,
>> Michael.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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