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The six primary programmers of ENIAC were all women: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC . Can we conclude, then, taking th
by top1nice1gtsrtd 11y ago
The six primary programmers of ENIAC were all women: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC .
Can we conclude, then, taking that as our sample, that programming is naturally "women's work"?
If the preponderance of women in programming at that time was just a fluke then it's not unimaginable that the preponderance of men in programming at this time is also a fluke.
- LesZedCB 11y agoThat's a misleading trope. The semantics of "programmer" now and then are not a fair comparison. There is now and was then a disparity in the gender distribution of "technically hard" jobs.
- delecti 11y agoIt was initially thought that programming was like sewing, and the "real" work was in the hardware. Then it was realized that programming was very real and significant work, and the men in charge took over those responsibilities. I think all we can conclude is that there's no reason women can't be just as successful at a career in programming as men, aside from social pressures. A statement which probably applies in both directions to nearly all fields. (Not that you were necessarily arguing otherwise, but for the benefit of those less familiar with that history.)