Female computer programmers in the 1960s

This is a bit on an article in Cosmopolitan from 1967.

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"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."

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It's funny how stereotypes can be interpreted to support one view or another.

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Originally posted by Zuul

It's funny how stereotypes can be interpreted to support one view or another.

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Well, when you get down to it, housewives/stay-at-home moms would be "naturals" at all kinds of things. Attention to detail is mentioned in the article, and working under a deadline is alluded to. But, there would also be working within a budget and dealing with "contingency plans," among other things.

For what it is worth Grace was right though even through the lens of gender roles of the 50s & 60s. My Mom wasn't, but would have made a great programmer. She had the detail orientation and thoroughness to have been a good programmer in the days before modern computer languages. I'm a really good programmer to toot my own horn a bit but I hate assembler. My Mom would have been good at it.

Admiral Hopper was one of the most amazing figures in American I think. I really think she was spot on on her analysis.

ETA: I should add, Hopper is one of my heroes. She is a step below Tesla and Teddy but ahead of most others.

Yup, she's right up there. Quite a woman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper

She even got a destroyer named after her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hopper_(DDG-70)