A 1967 Cosmopolitan article on female computer programmers #History #Programming #Women
The year is 1967 and Cosmopolitan Magazine runs a story on women working with computers, touting rather decent salaries for the time.
“It’s just like planning a dinner,” explains Dr. Grace Hopper, now a staff scientist in systems programming for Univac (She helped develop the first electronic digital computer. the Eniac, in 1946.) “You have to plan ahead and schedule everything so it’s ready when you need it. Programming requires patience and the ability to handle detail. Women are ‘naturals’ at computer programming.”
What she’s talking about is aptitude, the one most important quality a girl needs to become a programmer. She also needs a keen, logical mind. And if that zeroes out the old Billie Burke-Gracie Allen image of femininity, it’s about time, because this is the age of the Computer Girls.
We now know about many famous female programmers in the age – it’s interesting to read how media portrayed these women.
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