Via the awesome Programmers Being Dicks... as PBD put it, "An epic critique of the failings of the 'free culture movement' as regards inclusiveness. Essential reading." I concur.
From "Free as in Sexist" on First Monday:
In light of decades of work on bias in technology–related fields, it is startling that an imbalance in participation not only persists, but is exacerbated, in communities founded upon the liberal values of freedom and openness. Furthermore, this effect is present in projects like Wikipedia, which need not be overly technical (the focus of earlier literature) but share the liberal values and geeky esprit of software communities.
I argue the gender gap is, in part, a consequence of the culture, dynamics, and values of these communities. First, free culture can be unappealing to those unable or unwilling to hew to the stereotypical features of the online geek (i.e., an identity associated with an intense and narrow interest and argumentative style). Also, these communities’ openness means that a minority of difficult members (including, for example, a sincere misogynist or an insincere troll) can disproportionately affect the tone and dynamics of interactions. Finally, the ideology and rhetoric of freedom and openness can then be used to (a) suppress concerns by labeling them as “censorship” and, to (b) rationalize low female participation as simply a matter of women’s choice.