I’ve been actively mapping on OSM since 2009. I am involved with various outdoor pursuits groups which all have a constant use of maps. The gender mix in those groups is roughly 60/40 in favour of women. Whenever I discuss OpenStreetMap, use of it and contributing to it, the only people who have shown any interest have been men. Why is this? Women aren’t interested in maps? Science doesn’t interest Women? Women don’t like things with gadgets? Men are further along on the OCD scale and so enjoy the control, neatness and immediate result of OSM mapping? Men prefer the solitary aspect of OSM mapping on a PC or outside using a GPS device?

Or Women just find me boring? :-) :-(

Either way I experience a bias in every aspect of life which leans towards and away from Women or Men.

The main way to increase the number of female mappers, in my opinion, is to make the mapping process less technical and more social.

How you do that I leave to others to work out.

While not an American I applaud your stance, in fact I voted for Kate this year to get elected to OSMF.
But what I applaud even louder are your comments about this not being a gender battle and that “There are some great men running”. All too often a call for greater diversity in any group can be easily misinterpreted as an attack on those who are over represented.
To my knowledge no minority has been excluded from OSM, or Tech at large, but the social groups that have formed OSM and Tech in general are the ones who enjoyed it most. What is lacking is for other social groups to find it equally enjoyable.
This is where you, Kathleen, Kate, Alyssa et al come in. Continue to encourage, enthuse and inspire others to join us, but be careful not let it be seen as Male bashing. This will improve our map and our society!

Oh and also make our social gatherings more fun ;-)