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the title is provocative, but the content is better. it's funny how grown women are referred to as girls, yet it's less common that grown men are referred to as boys - in my experience.
Women often refer to each other as girls. Men don't usually to each other as boys.
anecdotally my girlfriend (Russian if that makes any difference) absolutely hates when I refer to her as a young woman, or use the word "woman" at all. She much prefers to be referred to as a girl.
I have no issues with being called a man.. not saying that this pattern is everywhere but it's very apparent with her and her family.
A good read. Although I was surprised the grandmother of programming, Ada Lovelace, wasn't mentioned. Ada Lovelace, was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. Because of this, she is often descr…
As interesting as Ada Lovelace's and Charles Babbage's story is, their efforts have had little (if any) influence on the computer we know today. In a sense, they are not completely relevant when talking about modern computing. I also feel Lovelace tend to distract the subject on women in computing.
Sidenote: Disclaimer: I was heavily influenced by my Biology professors. I don't think society evolved in vacuum separate from genetic evolution. So while I don't appreciate insulting people by gender. I do however think there are gender differences.
Another person on HN linked me to this documentary, which opened my mind. https://vimeo.com/19707588
the title is provocative, but the content is better. it's funny how grown women are referred to as girls, yet it's less common that grown men are referred to as boys - in my experience.
Women often refer to each other as girls. Men don't usually to each other as boys.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Like, in "going out with the boys" or "my boys have my back" or "boys will be boys"?
all those phrases are used by the immature referring to the immature. those _are_ boys.
I have never heard anyone in real life tell a woman that she "codes like a girl.", as if that would be a diss anyway? Given that anyone with even a basic understanding of history would be awed by some of the women in the industry (ada and grace anyone), you would have to pretty stupid to come to the conclusion that women cant code.
Recently, there has been an effort to "take the phrase back" and turn "... like a girl" into a good thing - instead of being considered an insult - Like the commercials that tout "Running like a girl".
I've never heard "coding... like a girl" either, so you have to frame it as part of this movement.
Sometimes I get a little happy - maybe even proud - when I read about the achievements of women who pioneered this field (especially the awesome Admiral Hopper.) Then I stop smiling and remind myself that, even in praise, it's not relevant.
I have never heard anyone in real life tell a woman that she "codes like a girl.", as if that would be a diss anyway? Given that anyone with even a basic understanding of history would be awed by some of the women in the industry (ada and grace anyone), you would have to pretty stupid to come to the conclusion that women cant code.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Women often refer to each other as girls. Men don't usually to each other as boys.
interestingly this might be because girls like to retain some semblance of youth. anecdotally my girlfriend (Russian if that makes any difference) absolutely hates when I refer to her as a young woman, or use the word "woman" at all. She much prefers to be referred to as a girl. I have no issues with being called a man.. not saying that this pattern is everywhere but it's very apparent with her and her family.