[dasil003]

Yes I'm surprised there's not more mention of affirmative action since that debate raged heavily in much wider circles decades ago, and many of the talking points are the same.

Personally I think affirmative action is more justifiable in something like college admissions where it's a critical gateway that a majority of people are expected to pass through on the way to success, versus conference speakers who are ostensibly there to talk about something they've already done rather than some future potential.

In other words, if you let more minorities into college, I think it's a credible argument that many will fulfill their potential and that will help correct structural problems over time, whereas I don't see how getting more women speakers at tech conferences does anything to solve the larger gender imbalance other than paper over the problem at the edges.

[mtext]

agreed. I also deffend affirmative actions, but conference organization it's not the best target for them.