Recoding Gender: Women's Changing Participation in Computing

by Janet Abbate, William Aspray (Editor)

Today, women earn a relatively low percentage of computer science degrees and hold proportionately few technical computing jobs. Meanwhile, the stereotype of the male "computer geek" seems to be everywhere in popular culture. Few people know that women were a significant presence in the early decades of computing in both the United States and Britain. Indeed, programming in postwar years was considered woman's work (perhaps in contrast to the more manly task of building the computers themselves). In "Recoding Gender," Janet Abbate explores the untold history of women in computer science and programming from the Second World War to the late twentieth century. Demonstrating how gender has shaped the culture of computing, she offers a valuable historical perspective on today's concerns over women's underrepresentation in the field. Abbate describes the experiences of women who worked with the earliest electronic digital computers: Colossus, the wartime codebreaking computer at Bletchley Park outside London, and the American ENIAC, developed to calculate ballistics. She examines postwar methods for recruiting programmers, and the 1960s redefinition of programming as the more masculine "software engineering." She describes the social and business innovations of two early software entrepreneurs, Elsie Shutt and Stephanie Shirley; and she examines the career paths of women in academic computer science. Abbate's account of the bold and creative strategies of women who loved computing work, excelled at it, and forged successful careers will provide inspiration for those working to change gendered computing culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Technology, History, Feminism, Computer Science, Computers

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent history of women in computing, which goes out of its way to remind readers of the absurdities women faced as the industry developed. However, the book definitely focuses on the experience of white women -- just as technology is not gender neutral, it is not race neutral either, and racism and sexism cannot be siloed.

[T S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Academic, thorough, misses the opportunity to really take us to the early world of computers and how women were treated. Could have used a more narrative structure.

[sand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides very good perspective though it was hard to read through.

[Hannah Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating history of women in tech, based upon first hand interviews with pioneers (like Stephanie Shirley, Karen Sparck Jones, and Anita Borg). It covers the really early days, the emergence of software engineering and business computing, and the later development of women-in-tech groups. The story of women in computing is set against the backdrop of the world at the time, with talented developers forced to "retire" when they had kids, or being refused promotion based on their gender.

Definite 5* from me - interesting, thorough, well-crafted history.

[Alyndia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a software developer, I'm always looking out for books focusing on the hardships and achievements of other women in the field. This book was not only informative but also inspiring for me.
Recoding Gender gives good insight into the history of women in computing. It highlights women's roles and participation in computer sciences, beginning with the early days of modern computing.
This book focuses on women who overcame hardships and struggles to build successful careers in this field. It is a well-researched book that shows a different approach to computing, which I can only recommend.

[Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

well researched and thorough in its approach. would definitely recommend the first 2 chapters, chapter 3 if you have time. i know the author acknowledges limits in the critiques and intersectionality, but still... i found it lacking.

[Russlecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recoding gender is interesting study, where the author presents a history of female participation in computing jobs. It's based on interviews with women who worked on first computing projects and supported with additional sources like analysis of popular ad campaigns for certain job offers and other papers. It didn't solely focus on females but also gave a shortened version of computing infancy, how the industry was treated as well as predictions for its future. While definitely interesting, I didn't feel completely satisfied with how it was structured.

[Mills College Library]

004.082 A123 2012

[Kathrin Passig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nur vier von fünf, weil gegen Ende etwas zu unkritisch-frauenglorifizierend. Aber in der ersten Hälfte sehr erhellend.

[Ruth]

Had to return it to the library before I got to finish it, but enjoyed the parts I read.

[Jessica]

Saw on the shelves at Octopus Books in the Glebe