[kictanet] Smashing the Silicon Valley patriarchy: anti-Lean In strategy puts onus on men

Mon Nov 7 17:46:33 EAT 2016

Nanjira, Here is an article about feminism and the men it has left behind.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/opinion/campaign-stops/the-men-feminists-left-behind.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

With some room for play, in type,Trump is the normal standard for Kenya's
male politician- or leader. The leader as alpha -male. I think Kenyan
society still celebrates masculinity in this more dominant, robust and
assertive-even violent forms (remember Wetangula being shamed by the DP for
allegedly reporting battery by his wife). What is curious, as this article
demonstrates, is that over the last forty years, the American male psyche
has not managed to shift much beyond this traditional model of masculinity-
and the answers offered by modern feminism-in gender fluidity seem to have
been rejected by the conservative right. My intuition is that this same
resistance will be encountered in our society, and the resistance to gender
role reversals will be even more acute. Indeed, there is already the
nascent talk of the boy child being left behind.

Gender politics aside, interventions are necessary to ensure more
female-and male interest (primary school and high school) in STEM studies
and careers-and eventually in ICT's. This endevour needs serious policy
thinking which this forum is appropriate for.

regards,

On Sun, Nov 6, 2016 at 9:04 AM, Nanjira Sambuli via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Barrack, part of the problem here is that whenever the issue of adverse
> gendered norms is brought up, the counter argument is as the one you shared
> in response.
>
> Do this, over the next month, look around, in events, in the news, in
> fora, and make note of how many women are enlisted to discuss technical
> stuff, political issues (outside of women in tech, women in politics
> framing), then get back to me. With news alone, Media Council Research has
> shown that even news is mostly tailored for a male audience! Read more on
> that here: http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/all-male-panels/
> 620-3213560-14f2u30/index.html
>
> Diversity may be complex, yes, but it doesn't mean that the delayed
> achievement should be sanctioned. And that is why I am challenging you all
> in tech. What can you do to change this on its head? Read that Guardian
> article for some useful pointers, retrieve the material used for that
> training (it's available).
>
> If you find yourself pushing back with "what about men" when women's
> issues are brought up, minimising room to assess the age-old issue, then
> perhaps you are defending how the patriarchy works. Understandable, often
> not easy to learn that the system that benefits you by default is harming
> others.
>
> Mwendwa, you describe a utopia we are a long ways from achieving. And that
> is why I shared those two resources, for context. What we should do
> (discuss Merits not gendered meritocracy) is very different from what we
> face today.
>
> At the very least, accept that, and don't deviate the narrative. That is
> unhelpful.
>
>
> Regards,
> Nanjira.
>
> Sent on the move.
>
> On 5 Nov 2016, at 23:37, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com>
> wrote:
>
> I still think women should continue to fight for their space in society. I
> don't think in the 21st century, we should be celebrating that there is a
> woman candidate in a panel, or in a political competition. Rather, we
> should  be discussing merits of what the candidates bring to the table. The
> journey is long, and I hope when my daughter gets to vie for the
> Presidency, or any higher office, nobody will define her by gender, but
> rather by what value she adds to the society.
>
> Kudos to those opening the way for our daughters.
>
> On Saturday, 5 November 2016, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> To add, diversity is a broad and complex subject that requires
>> examination on the basis of merit and existing circumstance. It
>> requires a conscious effort and purpose based on a particular value
>> system to achieve good results. I guess it ought to be sewn into the
>> National Fabric as a value system. While the idea is good the approach
>> is wanting since it might result in analysis paralysis.
>>
>> My two cents
>>
>> On 11/5/16, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Hi Nanjira,
>> >
>> > Does it mean that men should equally refuse to take part in all women
>> > panels? I was following a ladies meeting discussing Internet related
>> > issues yesterday and i saw a gentleman on the panel, whilst he seemed
>> > out of place on account of the theme i think the gentleman was
>> > participating by invitation on account of the value he was adding. In
>> > my humble opinion most men are sons, brothers , husbands, fathers and
>> > friends. I think we need to pay attention to our value systems and
>> > test every new idea against the same value system before embracing it.
>> > This is my humble opinion based on what i have read unless i am
>> > missing something.
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >
>> > On 11/5/16, Nanjira Sambuli via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> >
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/02/silicon-
>> valley-sexism-diversity-valerie-aurora-frame-shift?CMP=share_btn_tw
>> >>
>> >> Closer home, which men in this industry will lead the fold by, for
>> >> instance,
>> >> refusing to take place in all male panels? Champions needed! In the
>> >> meantime, women in tech, please sign up here if you haven't already,
>> and
>> >> please spread the word. It can't be an excuse any longer, that we
>> "can't
>> >> be
>> >> found".
>> >>
>> >> http://nanjira.com/2016/11/hundreds-of-fabulous-kenyan-women
>> -signed-up-to-saynotomanelske/
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Regards,
>> >> Nanjira.
>> >>
>> >> Sent on the move.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Barrack O. Otieno
>> > +254721325277
>> > +254733206359
>> > Skype: barrack.otieno
>> > PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Barrack O. Otieno
>> +254721325277
>> +254733206359
>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>
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>
>
> --
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>
>
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>

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