It is Ada Lovelace day.
The story of women in computing is pretty sad actually. In the early days, teams of female programmers worked on the systems of the time. This was during the war.
When the war ended, they were forcibly removed. Those that clung to their career weren't exactly treated with respect. One woman that excelled in spite of this is the late Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper.
"It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission"
She created the first compiler and was involved in the team behind the Univac I. I've always thought of her story as an amazing one.
Can you imagine how different the IT field would be if a small group of people didn't succeed in turning software development into a boys club? These women excelled at this work. All this prescribed gender role bullshit is absolutely unnecessary. It's a real shame.
Nice post. I love (love love love) science and technology; wish I went for more formal education within it. However, nothing stops me from learning and having fun (yes, fun) with any and all of it on my own.
We have a bunch of woman programmers at my work and until just recently had a female VP of information technology who was there for 10 years.
And BTW, I think its a sexy profession. :D
Precisely what I was wondering. Enquiring minds demand to know... ;-)
So what's the non flattering answer, Jason?
No, I don't think they are averse to Sci and Tech. Beeker here is a scientist. Given that more women than men are in college and graduate schools in this country, these days any woman can join the party. Why aren't they? I'll bet the answer isn't very flattering.
It is amusing to think that the first computers were based on the loom: a machine operated by thousands of woman.
Yeah, exactly. It's the stereotype of the computer geek that turns people off.
Do you really think women are naturally adverse to science and technology? I don't think so.
Hmm. Well, I don't know too many women who find IT cool. It's not a sexy profession - just ask them.