Genderchangers
"We encourage women to crash computers and to put it all back together again. Preferably with an improved installation."
The Genderchangers initiative was set up to provide opportunities for women to become more involved with computer hardware, Linux and other free software. It's a practical strategy by women who like to learn and get their hands dirty, but which is also a contribution towards releasing work with technology from its gendered expectations and constraints.
The Amsterdam Genderchangers Acadamy have been running since 1999. They have a programme of structured courses, produce booklets (see the great genderchangers hardware reader) and participate in the local tech scene. The London group are a bit more ad-hoc. They've run a few day-long workshops around the UK that have created a space where women can experiment together. All genderchangers activities encourage a cooperative and mutual learning approach, aiming to build confidence, have fun, and gain a greater sense of ones own resoucefulness. There are active groups also in Philadelphia, Toronto and Vancouver running training weekends, workshops and events.
"It will be okay to break things. It will be exhausting. There will be communication barriers, but we intend to challenge them!" Amsterdam Genderchangers.
LH