Oh, brother. 1955 is calling. -----Original Message----- From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rod Smallwood via cctalk Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2017 12:15 AM To: Brian Walenz via cctalk Subject: Re: Why women were the first computer programmers
On 24/08/2017 04:10, Brian Walenz via cctalk wrote: > On Wed, Aug 23, 2017 at 8:59 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk > <cctalk@classiccmp.org >> wrote: >> "Nathan Ensmenger has observed" >> >> he's written a whole book on the subject "The Computer Boys Take Over" >> https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/computer-boys-take-over >> >> > And: > > "Recording Gender", Janet Abbate (also mentioned in the article) > https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/recoding-gender > > "Programmed Inequality", Marie Hicks > https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/programmed-inequality > > b Many of the first computers ie people who performed computations were indeed women. Hence they knew the steps involved in proceeding from data to answer. When it came time for computations to be performed by a machine it would be their job to get the machine to repeat what they did. I am all for female equality (but not superiority) The main reason for the unbalance is the same in all work situations. Its called Maternal Dropout. Women are genetically programmed to be mothers and child care specialists. They have a built in urge to do so. So often expensive education or training is wasted by this compulsion. They are just good at single simple or multi-step complex repeated tasks or multi tasking. These are the main requirements for this vital job. They will all tell you that is the case Once programming moved from formal analysis and form filling eg COBOL into an interactive creative activity requiring unitary focus women had to work much harder to compete. Can women be good programmers. Certainly, but they are hampered by natural forces that they have to overcome. Men just move into the vacuum caused by this situation. Rod -- Wanted one pdp-8/i rocker switch leaver to copy.
