Laurian Vega Speaker Notes: Systers Past, Present, and Future

From Anita Borg Institute Wiki

Laurian Vega - Speaker

I spoke on this panel as a relatively new member of systers. I joined soon after the 2006 Grace Hopper Conference. I can't say how much it has meant to me and changed my views on the world, but I can try (to be seen below).

I was given some questions by Mary to give me some time to think about Syster's issues. I don't know how useful they are, but here they are.

Introduction: as a (relatively) new member of systers, how do you see it, why would someone join now, how does it help address current problems?

• I think that systers is a community of problem solvers and…
• Life is full of problems – specifically ones relating to being a woman in technology.
• Systers provides a light-weight community of life experience – as a bouncing board, a megaphone, and support

What has systers meant to / done for the larger community / society?

• For me, it has validated that I belong in this field. Before all I saw were these really awesome idols which were kind of on a pedestal. I would ask myself, “How can I ever be as awesome as her?” But when I started to hear other voices doing the jobs I want to do or hearing people struggle, it validated what I wanted to do. Didn’t remove the pedestal, just kind of provided a ladder to help show me how to get there myself.
• It serves as a one-way mentorship

How could systers be improved? Is it too big? too chatty?

• better online forum that could be navigated. I worry when I want to post that other people have said something like it before. I don’t want to waste people’s time asking the same question that was asked last year.
• Something like Digg but for systers – for news articles
• No, it is not too chatty

Should systers consider moving from (or augmenting itself with) technology that supports modern virtual communities?

• Again, maybe something like Digg.
• I’m not too sure about some other virtual community. I think that is too heavy – it might not encourage as much membership. - Signing up for a listserve is easy to work with/maintain – something other virtual community might be too hard to prolong.

What new problems should systers be responding to?

• Lurkers? Should they be responding more?

What does/should systers provide that isn't provided elsewhere?

• Life stories
• Many female viewpoints. I mean I value what men say, but sometimes I wonder, “If he were female would he be saying that?”
• What else? Maybe more of an push for more international systers? A way to document career paths

Something else?

• I think it is easy to get wrapped up in my own life and not to see that there are issues beyond that my scope and my world – it is easy to get used to being in a minority situation; it is easy to put on blinders. Systers helps to broaden that scope and my world. And while I may not encounter problems now, I may in the future. And seeing how extreme others are acting helps me get my ‘extreme-ness’ in check.