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Proof's in the pudding, gents. If there's nothing wrong with computing and women, how come more women aren't doing it? I don't think it's that simple. There i

Proof's in the pudding, gents. If there's nothing wrong with computing and women, how come more women aren't doing it? I don't think it's that simple. There is definitely sexism in CS. There's sexism everywhere. But your argument is that there aren't more women in CS because of inherent sexism. What other profession removed sexism from its ranks before gender integrating? Women have had to fight to get into other professions and still face open sexism in many fields. But that hasn't stopped them from getting jobs in many fields and excelling despite glass ceilings. I don't know why there aren't more women in CS and I don't think anyone does. I always find it interesting that the word first 'computers' were women sitting at mechanical adding machines computing artillery and other mathematical tables. They were all women. A woman, Grace Mary Hopper, wrote the first compiler and coined the term 'debugging'. If people had viewed programming then like they do today would that first chance been given to a woman? The first 6 programmers of the ENIAC were women. Is that because people viewed programming like we view typing today?

jbooth 16y ago
I wasn't making that argument -- I was merely suggesting that those who swear that they're not sexist for putting T&A all over slides at a supposedly respectable conference might want to reevaluate a few things. Sexist or not, I mean, we all know women, right? How do they typically react to you blatantly objectifying them in serious settings? Especially brainy settings? Agree on viewing computing then like we view typing today. Says something about us then and now. And what it says is not "hey, we're a postmodern society, i'm a white male and I don't feel any exclusion, so all you PC whiners should shut up".
- smutticus 16y ago
  Right on. Glad that we're basically on the same page. I found this oral history interview of Jean Bartik one of the 6 original ENIAC programers. Read the anecdote from page 41-42 for a view of how it was for women in computing back then. http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/Oral_History/102658322.05.01.acc.pdf http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/Ora... It's a crazy read where they discuss the invention of the concept of parity in memory, late 40's sexism in the work place and McCarthyism. I find this absolutely fascinating.

jbooth 16y ago

I wasn't making that argument -- I was merely suggesting that those who swear that they're not sexist for putting T&A all over slides at a supposedly respectable conference might want to reevaluate a few things. Sexist or not, I mean, we all know women, right? How do they typically react to you blatantly objectifying them in serious settings? Especially brainy settings? Agree on viewing computing then like we view typing today. Says something about us then and now. And what it says is not "hey, we're a postmodern society, i'm a white male and I don't feel any exclusion, so all you PC whiners should shut up".

smutticus 16y ago
Right on. Glad that we're basically on the same page. I found this oral history interview of Jean Bartik one of the 6 original ENIAC programers. Read the anecdote from page 41-42 for a view of how it was for women in computing back then. http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/Oral_History/102658322.05.01.acc.pdf http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/Ora... It's a crazy read where they discuss the invention of the concept of parity in memory, late 40's sexism in the work place and McCarthyism. I find this absolutely fascinating.