Debunked Myths
Myth:
Men were the first computer programmers.
The Truth Is:
Women pioneered programming! Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm, and women programmed the ENIAC.
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What We Know Now:
Computing history has been unfairly masculinized, erasing women's foundational contributions. In the 1840s, Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, envisioning computing beyond mere calculation and earning recognition as the first programmer.
A century later, six women—Kay McNulty, Betty Jennings, Betty Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Fran Bilas, and Ruth Lichterman—programmed the ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer. Their wartime work was crucial, yet they were often introduced as 'refrigerator ladies' posing with the machine.
Initially, 'software' (programming) was considered less prestigious than 'hardware' (engineering), so it was relegated to women. This early gendering created a 'hidden figures' narrative now being rediscovered. The truth reveals that telling machines what to do—the very essence of programming—was pioneered by women whose contributions shaped our digital world.
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