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By Ashe Dryden The state of diversity in open source contributions is abysmal. With the number of female OSS contributors at a shockingly low 1.5% and other groups not even documented, we need to ask what we can be doing better as a community. We'll discuss the barriers that people face contributing to our open source projects and what we can do to increase participation. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/FG3r/
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The video "Open Source Isn't For Everyone, But It Could Be" features Ashe Dryden, a programmer and diversity advocate within the Ruby community, addressing the critical issue of diversity in open source contributions. The current state of open source is marked by a stark lack of representation, particularly with only 1.5% of contributors being women, while other marginalized groups remain undocumented. Ashe emphasizes that the software we develop reflects the demographic makeup of its contributors, making it essential to increase diversity within open source communities. The following key points are discussed: - **Current Landscape of Diversity in Open Source**: The overwhelming majority of contributors come from similar backgrounds, and the representation of women and other marginalized groups is alarmingly low. - **Barriers to Participation**: Factors such as time constraints due to unpaid labor, pay inequality, lack of compensation for open source work, and negative treatment in communities contribute to the low participation rates among marginalized individuals. - **Community Engagement**: Ashe advocates for creating an inclusive environment by being transparent about project needs and labeling beginner-friendly issues. The importance of welcoming newcomers and treating them with respect is highlighted, as is the need for codes of conduct to foster a safe atmosphere. - **Support Systems**: Fostering participation can also involve supporting initiatives like Rails Girls and RailsBridge, which mentor and assist underrepresented individuals in contributing to open source. Companies are encouraged to specify support for open source contributions in job postings. - **Conclusion and Resources**: Ashe concludes by stressing the need for more systematic efforts to understand and address the barriers hindering diverse contributions. She provides resources such as guidelines for contributions and codes of conduct to help facilitate respect and inclusivity in open source projects. Through her advocacy, Ashe Dryden calls for a collective effort to create a more welcoming and diverse open source community, emphasizing that broadening participation will lead to better software and a more equitable landscape in tech.
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