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Quoting Viv <viv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: > We don't seem to have very many female members - off hand, I can't think > of more than Clare, Gemma and myself (I apologise if I have missed > anyone). However, certainly we are in a significant minority. > > I don't know if this is just our LUG or if this reflects the proportion > of female Linux users overall. Firstly, I think that most people who aren't involved with IT either for work or as a hobby (e.g. helping develop the linux kernel in their spare time) are "scared" of computers, even if they use one every day. Windows comes preinstalled on most computers, so the vast majority of people won't change to Linux (*very* scary, especially since linux is generally seen as a "geek's OS"). Secondly, even amongst people involved with IT, linux is a minority OS --- though I like linux and use it when I can, most of my clients want software developed for Windows, so I have to use Windows for much of my work day. Not only do many places demand Windows, but linux is still seen as a geek's OS even amongst IT people. Thirdly (and maybe most importantly for the men/women ratio), there are many more men involved in IT than women. Though I know some quite accomplished programmers who are women, women programmers are a rarity. Put all these things together, and the number of women using linux is going to be very small. Anthony -- Anthony Williams | Just Software Solutions Ltd Custom Software Development | http://www.justsoftwaresolutions.co.uk Registered in England, Company Number 5478976. Registered Office: 15 Carrallack Mews, St Just, Cornwall, TR19 7UL -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html