Why do you find it concerning that a conference would focus on women?

I don’t think they were expressing concern, just the fact.

I read it as a damning indictment against anti-“DEI” fanatics that they’re on the wrong side of history when they push the envelope too far in the direction of “merit-based hiring”, as if DEI was something relatively-recently concocted.

Laughably, in the days before “DEI”, “merit-based hiring” usually equated to “good old boys club”. Based on the industries in which I’ve been involved, it’s still very much “good old boys club”, despite best efforts for DEI to try to make things more merit-based.

Huh? Someone saying something is a DEI concern does not mean they find it concerning.

Because it undermines claims of equality? Make conferences for everyone, men and women.

And actually, don't give gold stars to people just for being women (as in, would the same person as a man receive even half the attention), this is the worst way to belittle actual achievements coming from them.