So far as I can tell the only exciting thing about the conference is what's missing. The have over 25 speakers and presenters on their schedule, but not one woman. They just announced additions (more men!) so apparently it's not too late for them to address the issue.

i read your post on your site too jen. i don't understand your point though. it sounds like they invited women that related to the topics being discussed, but all of the women turned them down.

too my knowledge you haven't made any relevant suggestions, so are you implying they should just invite women for the sake of inviting women?

it just seems funny that you are making a big deal about it, but haven't done anything or suggested anything to improve the situation.

You raise a good point - it's not enough to just say it's wrong. Offering solutions, however obvious those solutions might seem, is important.

I'm going to work on a list of women who would be a good fit for the conference and post that list on my site. If you have anyone to suggest or recommend, that'd be great.

They should make the effort to reach out to more creative women who are influential across these discplines. If they get a lot of "no"s and find themselves stumped about who to invite, they should reach out and ask for recommendations.

Asking and hearing no and leaving it at that isn't enough - they should ensure that there are women on the schedule, it's simply not representative otherwise.

Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it.

First of all, Jen Bekman has been VERY vocal about the lack of women in TOKION's conference this year. That's all well and good but I have to add that it seems now that TOKION HAS gotten confirmation from Jessica Craig Martin to speak it will now seem to certain people that she was asked because she was a woman and not because she is brilliant. Good going there Jen.
Secondly - why is Ms. Bekman so up in arms about this is a good question.
The kids at TOKION are doing their best to pay their rent while doing something that adds color and life and fun to the world. They work on the magazine and conference because they love them, not because they are being paid big salaries. I would hope they inspire more media outlets to do this kind of thing rather than big masturbatory marketing fests disguised as culture like the GQ Man Of The Year awards or that Fashion Rocks silliness.
Finally - doesn't Ms. Bekman have a gallery to run? Why is she spending this much time raining on the parade of a magazine that has done SO much more to promote women artists than most of the pop culture rags on the news stands today?
I think Ms. Bekman might have some other agenda that is far from the real issue.

First of all, Jen Bekman has been VERY vocal about the lack of women in TOKION's conference this year. That's all well and good but I have to add that it seems now that TOKION HAS gotten confirmation from Jessica Craig Martin to speak it will now seem to certain people that she was asked because she was a woman and not because she is brilliant. Good going there Jen.
Secondly - why is Ms. Bekman so up in arms about this is a good question.
The kids at TOKION are doing their best to pay their rent while doing something that adds color and life and fun to the world. They work on the magazine and conference because they love them, not because they are being paid big salaries. I would hope they inspire more media outlets to do this kind of thing rather than big masturbatory marketing fests disguised as culture like the GQ Man Of The Year awards or that Fashion Rocks silliness.
Finally - doesn't Ms. Bekman have a gallery to run? Why is she spending this much time raining on the parade of a magazine that has done SO much more to promote women artists than most of the pop culture rags on the news stands today?
I think Ms. Bekman might have some other agenda that is far from the real issue.

First of all, Jen Bekman has been VERY vocal about the lack of women in TOKION's conference this year. That's all well and good but I have to add that it seems now that TOKION HAS gotten confirmation from Jessica Craig Martin to speak it will now seem to certain people that she was asked because she was a woman and not because she is brilliant. Good going there Jen.
Secondly - why is Ms. Bekman so up in arms about this is a good question.
The kids at TOKION are doing their best to pay their rent while doing something that adds color and life and fun to the world. They work on the magazine and conference because they love them, not because they are being paid big salaries. I would hope they inspire more media outlets to do this kind of thing rather than big masturbatory marketing fests disguised as culture like the GQ Man Of The Year awards or that Fashion Rocks silliness.
Finally - doesn't Ms. Bekman have a gallery to run? Why is she spending this much time raining on the parade of a magazine that has done SO much more to promote women artists than most of the pop culture rags on the news stands today?
I think Ms. Bekman might have some other agenda that is far from the real issue.

OK we get it already.