Talks
Speakers
Events
Topics
Sign in
Home
Talks
Speakers
Events
Topics
Leaderboard
Use
Analytics
Sign in
Suggest modification to this talk
Title
Description
By Jessica Suttles and Elise Worthy Computer science was dominated by women until the 1970's. Women like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper paved the way for technical professions today. We'll cover the history of women in computing, possible causes of the gender shift, and ideas for how our community can shape the future. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/FGay/
Date
Summarized using AI?
If this talk's summary was generated by AI, please check this box. A "Summarized using AI" badge will be displayed in the summary tab to indicate that the summary was generated using AI.
Show "Summarized using AI" badge on summary page
Summary
Markdown supported
The video titled 'The History of Women in Programming' features speakers Jessica Suttles and Elise Worthy at Ruby on Ales 2013, exploring women's pivotal roles in the development and evolution of programming. The discussion unveils how women significantly influenced computing, from the early 1800s with Ada Lovelace—recognized as the first programmer—to the mid-20th century when women filled roles as 'human computers' during World War II. Key points discussed include: - **Historical Contributions:** Women like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper were instrumental in early computer science, contributing foundational concepts and inventions such as the first algorithm and early programming languages. - **Impact of World Wars:** The need for workers during World War II created opportunities for women, allowing them to occupy roles in technical fields, with many becoming key programmers and mathematicians. - **Feminist Movements and Education:** The feminist movements in the 1960s and 1970s spurred an increase in women pursuing education in STEM fields, particularly computer science. The discussion highlights key figures like Adele Goldberg, who contributed to the development of object-oriented programming languages. - **Decline in Representation:** Despite early gains, the 1980s saw a decline in women entering computing as it became associated with rigid gender stereotypes, which contributed to fewer women in programming fields despite many still advancing in other scientific careers. - **Challenges into the 2000s:** Even as notable female figures like Fran Allen and Barbara Liskov made advancements, later decades illustrated continued disinterest from women in computing due to enduring societal stereotypes. - **Modern Initiatives:** Programs such as Rails Girls and organizational grants aim to encourage women to enter computing by creating supportive environments, which have successfully increased female participation in programming endeavors. The discussion concludes with a call to action, encouraging attendees to support initiatives that promote women's involvement in the tech industry, emphasizing that the landscape of software engineering continues to evolve. The overall message underscores the importance of recognizing women's historical contributions and fostering a more inclusive future in technology.
Suggest modifications
Cancel
