Editing LinuxChix

'''LinuxChix''' is a women-oriented [[Linux]] community. It was formed to provide both technical and social support for women Linux users, although men are encouraged to contribute.<ref>"LinuxChix is a community for women who like Linux and Free Software, and for women and men who want to support women in computing. The membership ranges from novices to experienced users, and includes professional and amateur programmers, system administrators and technical writers." - {{Citation/make link|http://www.linuxchix.org|LinuxChix - Main Page}}</ref> Members of the community are referred to as "a Linux chick" (singular) and "LinuxChix" or "Linux Chix" (plural) regardless of gender.{{r|ABOUT}}

== History ==
LinuxChix was founded in 1999 by Deb Richardson, who was a technical writer and web-master at an open source consulting firm.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/she-geeks-confess-love-for-linux-5000103260/|title=She-geeks confess love for Linux|work=[[ZDNet]] News|author=Lisa Bowman|date=September 15, 1999|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref><ref name=ABOUT>{{Cite web|title=About LinuxChix|url=https://www.linuxchix.org/content/about-linuxchix|website=linuxchix.org|access-date=2021-04-28|archive-date=2018-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010050356/https://www.linuxchix.org/content/about-linuxchix|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her reason for founding LinuxChix was to create an alternative to the "locker room mentality" of some other [[Linux User Groups]] and forums. There are two core rules: "be polite and be helpful."{{r|ABOUT}}

LinuxChix started as an [[electronic mailing list]] called ''grrltalk''. The growth of this mailing list led to the establishment of other mailing lists, beginning with ''techtalk'' for technical discussions and ''issues'' for discussion of women's political issues. LinuxChix received attention when [[ZDNet]] published an article on it, which was subsequently cross-posted on [[Slashdot]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,,267968,00.html|title=Web Watch:Linux lasses|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=September 23, 1999|author=Karlin Lillington|access-date=2007-07-15}}</ref>

== Leadership and structure ==
Deb Richardson oversaw the activities of LinuxChix until 2001, when she handed over global coordination and hosting to Melbourne programmer and writer [[Jenn Vesperman]].<ref name="theage">{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/29/1017206149200.html | title = Linux grrls break free | work = [[The Age]] | author = Adam Turner | date = April 2, 2002 | access-date = 2007-07-15 | archive-date = 2016-11-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161101032638/https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/29/1017206149200.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Jenn Vesperman led the community in a mostly hands-off fashion, delegating almost all tasks, including mailing list administration and website maintenance, to a group of volunteers.<ref>{{cite journal | url = http://www.usenix.org/events/usenix04/tech/sigs/full_papers/vesperman/vesperman_html/index.html | title = Building and Maintaining an International Volunteer Linux Community | author = Jenn Vesperman, Val Henson | publisher = Proceedings of the 2004 [[USENIX]] Annual Technical Conference, FREENIX Track | date = June 27 – July 2, 2004 | access-date = 2007-04-09 }}</ref> During Jenn Vesperman's tenure, the number of mailing lists tripled with the ''newchix'' mailing list for those new to Linux, the ''courses'' mailing list used by LinuxChix to teach each other specific topics, and the ''grrls-only'' mailing list (the only list closed to male subscribers) founded by Val Henson in 2002. At around the same time, a LinuxChix IRC server was created.

The term ''LinuxChix'' refers to the organisation centered on the official website, the mailing lists and the [[IRC]] channels. The organisation has no official status, and the name is used by other loosely affiliated groups, including several local, continental, and national chapters which operate independently.

In March 2007, Jenn Vesperman announced that she was retiring as the coordinator and invited nominations for a new leader.<ref>[http://mailman.linuxchix.org/pipermail/announce/2007-March/000536.html Time for a new LinuxChix coordinator]</ref> Mary Gardiner was announced as the new coordinator In April 2007, planning to serve as coordinator until 2009,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;153046089 |title=LinuxChix announces new international coordinator |author=Liz Tay (LinuxWorld) |work=[[Computerworld]] |date=April 4, 2007 |access-date=2007-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418194917/http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id%3B153046089 |archive-date=April 18, 2007 }}</ref> however she resigned in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2291471/girl-trouble-forces-top-linuxchix-to-quit.html|title=Girl trouble forces top LinuxChix to quit|date=June 19, 2007|author=Naomi Hamilton|work=Computerworld|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref>  Currently the organization is led by three lead volunteers known as the "Tres Chix" who are elected by popular vote.  In August 2007, Sulamita Garcia, Akkana Peck and Carla Schroder were elected to these positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://linuxchix.org/linuxchix-coordinators.html|title=LinuxChix coordinators|work=LinuxChix homepage|access-date=2021-04-28|archive-date=2021-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428023115/https://www.linuxchix.org/linuxchix-coordinators.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Regional chapters ==

LinuxChix has over 15 regional chapters around the world.{{r|ABOUT}} In 2004, a chapter was founded in Africa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hindustantimes.com/india/a-bid-to-educate-women-on-it/story-chtrPZ1fg5hKlr0akqGmvM.html|title=An African bid to educate women on IT|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|author=Indo-Asian News Service|author-link=Indo-Asian News Service|date=April 13, 2006|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref> In March 2007, on the [[International Women's Day]], Australia's two LinuxChix chapters united to form a nationwide chapter called "AussieChix".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.linux.com/articles/60660|title=Australia's LinuxChix unite to form AussieChix|author=Melissa Draper|date=March 7, 2007|access-date=2007-07-15}}</ref> The New Zealand chapter was established in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0702/S00057.htm|title=Announcing Linuxchix New Zealand|author=LinuxChix NZ Press Release|date=February 26, 2007|access-date=2007-07-15}}</ref>

== Events ==
Some local LinuxChix chapters hold regular meetings. Others only meet up on special occasions, such as visits from non-local members or in conjunction with technical conferences. In 2007, members of the Sydney chapter organized a LinuxChix miniconf at [[linux.conf.au]] at the [[University of New South Wales]].<ref>[http://builderau.com.au/news/soa/Women_flock_to_Linux_talkfest/0,339028227,339272778,00.htm Women flock to Linux talkfest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725015314/http://builderau.com.au/news/soa/Women_flock_to_Linux_talkfest/0,339028227,339272778,00.htm |date=2011-07-25 }}, [http://lca2007.linux.org.au/Miniconfs/Linuxchix/Proposal Original proposal]</ref><ref>[http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/02/07/1645205 Portrait: LinuxChix Brazil's Sulamita Garcia]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Miniconfs - linux.conf.au 2007|url = https://linux.org.au/conf/2007/Miniconfs.html|website = linux.org.au|access-date = 2015-12-13|archive-date = 2016-03-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160320225419/https://linux.org.au/conf/2007/Miniconfs.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Events are held on other special occasions; in 2005, for example, LinuxChix Africa organized an event to celebrate [[Software Freedom Day]] at [[Wits University]].<ref>[http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?src=rss&id=596 Open source message hits Wits University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807131116/http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php/?src=rss&id=596 |date=2011-08-07 }}</ref>

===LinuxChix labs===
The Indian chapter of LinuxChix (aka IndiChix) led an initiative to establish Linux labs in a number of cities in India. These labs provide spaces equipped with PCs and internet connections where women can learn more about Linux and collaborate on contributions to the Libre software community. Labs have gone live in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

== See also ==
*[[Ada Initiative]]
*[[National Center for Women & Information Technology]]
*[[Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology]]
*[[Girl Geek Dinners]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.linuxchix.org LinuxChix website]
* [https://www.linuxchix.org/regional-chapters.html LinuxChix regional chapters]

{{Linux}}

[[Category:Women in computing]]
[[Category:Electronic mailing lists]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Linux user groups]]
[[Category:Organizations for women in science and technology]]