Free/Libre Open Source Software (F/LOSS)

Dorcas Muthoni, long-time APC-Africa-Women (AAW) member and trainer, has been recognized as an Anita Borg Change Agent. Muthoni's work in computer training and especially in promoting the use of free and open source software among African women certainly deserves high merits.

"Existe la creencia de que las mujeres tenemos una relación lejana con la tecnología, pero ahora hay muchas iniciativas que están buscando la inclusión de la mujer en los proyectos que implican el uso de TICs", comentó Patricia Peña, co-instructora en el Track sobre Producción de Contenidos para el Desarrollo en el Taller de Tecnologías de Redes Internet para América Latina y El Caribe (WALC).

The issue of content production and representativeness is important within African news production. In her presentation at the 2007 Digital Citizen Indaba conference in Grahamstown on Sunday, the chairperson of LinuxChix in South Africa, Anna Badimo, highlighted the need for new approaches in African news production. APC Africa-Women co-coordinator Sylvie Niombo explained that content in the mainstream media ignores lived realities of women.

Free/Libre open source software (F/LOSS) has the potential to change the way women relate with ICTs, allowing for more control over the tools they use. As Users, women will have the freedom from steep licensing fees and the opportunity to influence software development to meet their needs. As developers, the open principle behind FOSS encourages a more collaborative environment, in which women may discover more freedom to create applications and solutions. However until women are recognised as equal partners, users and developers in FOSS, these potentials will remain at rest.

Full article: We assume FOSS benefits all equally. But does it really?