On Sun 10/Nov/2013 22:38:36 +0100 Abdussalam Baryun wrote: > On Sunday, November 10, 2013, Melinda Shore wrote: > >> I don't know if the diversity group has opted not to work >> on gender issues because it's just too contentious, because >> regional issues are easier, because they're planning to work >> on it later, because of lack of interest, ... but it's pretty >> Striking > > The diversity team should consider gender the first issue to work > on, I am surprised that they still not working on this. No, wait. I agree the gender issue is important, but fail to see why it should be considered the first issue. It is not IETF-specific, as we share this problem with many other organizations: Female quotes are being considered in EU public administration for years; the US had no female presidents yet, but seems to be on the right way. Another diversity dimension is the kind of employer that IETFers work for. Is that question even asked in the survey? Let's not forget that the newspaper articles that this thread stemmed from raised specific doubts about governmental organizations and invoked the elders' ability to counter the spooks. In turn, governments used to be seen as a defense against unscrupulous private sector operators. And how about NGOs? That issue is Internet-specific as it touches on the multi-stakeholder paradigm. All of those issues are important, and interrelated with one another in various respects, including personal careers, equality of rights, democracy, and Internet sustainability. Ale