Feminism and Diversity
Related: About this forumAdventures in Feministory: Ada Lovelace, First Computer Programmer
Lady Ada King, Countess of Lovelacebetter known as Ada Lovelacedescribed herself as an analyst and metaphysician in her only published article. Seeing as how that article included what is cited as the first computer program and the first incidence of computers being assigned abilities beyond mathematical functions, her description rings true. Born in 1815 to Lord Byron, moody English poet, and Anne Isabelle Milbanke, "princess of parallelograms," Ada was primed to develop what she once called "poetical science."
Although Ada was Byrons only legitimate child, he had virtually no relationship with her. Frustrated and at times frightened by the poets mood swings and erratic behavior, Adas mother separated from her husband shortly after Adas birth; Lord Byron then left England when Ada was only a few months old, never to return. Milbanke, who was herself a talented mathematician, insisted on giving Ada an intensive arithmetical educationwhile she also allowed her daughter to pursue music, she opposed excessive studies of that which she considered "poetical." Ada was indeed skilled with numbers, so much that she outstripped a number of her tutors abilities, but she often devoted her skills to more whimsical applications than her mother preferred, such as designing flying machines at the age of thirteen.
In her late teens, Ada found a mentor and friend in Mary Somerville, who in the 1820s had published English translations and explanations of Laplaces mathematics. At one of Somervilles dinner parties, Ada met Charles Babbage, and was intrigued by his explanation of the Difference Engine that he had designed and partially built. Her interest in his project developed into a close friendship that involved the two of them exchanging letters and advising one another on their work; their correspondence has led to some controversy over how much credit each of them deserves for ideas presented in Adas published piece.
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http://bitchmagazine.org/post/adventures-in-feministory-ada-lovelace-first-computer-programmer
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And women STILL have trouble getting IT and programming jobs!
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)obamanut2012
(27,807 posts)Great link!
sarge43
(29,155 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,375 posts)sarge43
(29,155 posts)Appears to be all Navy, but reach inside and there's a pirate dying to get out.
obamanut2012
(27,807 posts)TlalocW
(15,625 posts)Because essentially, it's still an old boys' network but one centered around being able to quote Monty Python, which, not to stereotype, most women don't do.
I am, of course, joking.
TlalocW
obamanut2012
(27,807 posts)Of course, I know nothing about IT or programming...
I also like Dr. Who, if that counts any.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Out of 18 of us in that associate degree program, there was 1 female.
She ended up dropping out-
AC/DC theory had zero women and if I remember correctly Robotics had two out of 15 or 20 folks.
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)and accurately predicted the 2008 economic crash (Greenspan and Summers told her to STFU)