There is a glut of white heterosexual male role models in science and technology, and that shapes cultural perceptions regarding what a programmer should be lik

There is a glut of white heterosexual male role models in science and technology, and that shapes cultural perceptions regarding what a programmer should be like, and causes discrimination against people who do not fit this mold[1]. This might be a clumsy solution (promoting people as successful programmer/role models based on considerations other than achievement), but the risk is low (lower the value of PyCon France slightly) and the reward is potentially very large (increase Python's stake in an underutilized labour pool), if the experiment is successful. [1] http://www.pnas.org/content/109/41/16474.full.pdf+html http://www.pnas.org/content/109/41/16474.full.pdf+html