For many years, the idea took hold that fields like computing and science in general were strictly male. Fortunately, things are changing, but more importantly, the past tells a different story. Setting aside classic marketing tricks, we can find plenty of images showing women dedicated to programming, maintenance, manufacturing, and the general use of computer systems.
One of the best films of last year according to critics was Hidden Figures, based on the book of the same name, which tells the story of three African-American women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, "human computers" whose expertise in mathematics and engineering helped NASA win the Space Race. The success of the book and its adaptation renewed interest in these and other women who remained in the background, performing calculations, programming advanced systems, building computers, managing resources, and much more. Some of the faces we will see below are quite well known, while others remain anonymous simply because there is no information available. If you have suggestions for women who should be part of this gallery, feel free to share them in the comments.
The Gallery
