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How To Make Your Conference More Diverse by Inviting Imaginary Women Experts

Did DevTernity just start a hot, new trend in the diversity and inclusion space?

Ronke Babajide, Ph.D.
Bitchy
5 min readNov 29, 2023

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scanning of the face of a beautiful young woman
image by billionphotos source freepik

Everyone knows it by now.

We don’t have enough women working in the tech industry. As a senior woman in the field, managing a team of men, I see it every day.

There are many reasons for this, but none of them is that women are not interested in tech. That’s why companies and event organizers are trying to support diversity.

When they organize an event or conference, they scour the Internet for women experts to enrich their events. Huffing and puffing how hard it is to find these elusive women-shaped experts.

Nobody wants to be caught hosting a sausage fest or a manel. That’s so 2019. Today, you’ll be called out immediately if you’re caught with an all-male lineup.

But what if there was an easier way to wrap yourself in the halo of diversity without doing any of the actual work?

Just make up some female speakers. No one will notice, or will they?

Despite all efforts, not much has changed.

Despite setting up ERGS (Employee Resource Groups) for diversity and inclusion, showcasing…

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Thought-provoking essays on gender, identity, and culture through the feminist lens.

Ronke Babajide, Ph.D.
Ronke Babajide, Ph.D.

Written by Ronke Babajide, Ph.D.

Feminist, Woman in Tech, Natural Scientist, Life Coach, Speaker, Podcaster, Founder. I write about Feminism, Society, Work, Science, Personal Growth & Life

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