Making Programming Masculine: How Gender and Identity Shaped Early Computer Programming

Making Programming Masculine traces the evolution of computer programming from the 1940s through the 1980s, examining how gender dynamics shaped the field during its formative years. The book follows the transformation of programming from a role initially filled by women to one dominated by men. The narrative explores key historical developments like the professionalization of programming, the emergence of personality testing, and changes in hiring practices at major technology companies. Ensmenger draws from corporate archives, technical publications, and oral histories to document how cultural forces and workplace policies influenced who became programmers. The text examines the construction of the "computer boys" stereotype and analyzes how programming became coded as masculine work despite its gender-neutral origins. Firsthand accounts from early programmers provide perspectives on changing workplace cultures and career pathways. This historical analysis reveals broader patterns about how professional identities form and how gender becomes embedded in technical fields. The book demonstrates the lasting impact of seemingly neutral organizational decisions on workplace demographics and professional culture.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Nathan Ensmenger's overall work: Readers frequently cite Ensmenger's clear writing style and ability to explain complex technical history without getting bogged down in jargon. His "Computer Boys Take Over" receives particular attention for making programming history accessible to non-technical audiences. What readers liked: - Detailed research and extensive primary sources - Balance of technical and social history - Clear explanations of how gender shaped early computing - Connection of historical patterns to current tech industry issues What readers disliked: - Academic tone in some sections - Limited coverage of international developments - Focus primarily on US corporate computing - Some repetition between chapters Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (28 ratings) One reader noted: "Finally, a computing history that explains why the field evolved the way it did, not just what happened." Another mentioned: "Could have used more international perspective, but the US corporate history is thoroughly researched."

Programmed Inequality by Marie Hicks The book documents how Britain lost its early dominance in computing by systematically discriminating against its skilled women workers and pushing them out of the industry.

Recoding Gender by Janet Abbate This history traces women programmers' experiences from World War II through the 1960s, examining how gender shaped opportunities and barriers in early computing careers.

The Computer Boys Take Over by Nathan Ensmenger The text reveals how computer programmers transformed from low-status technicians to highly professional technical workers through deliberate occupational gatekeeping and masculinization.

Gender Codes by Thomas Misa The work chronicles how women participated in the early decades of computing and information technology development, and documents the processes that pushed them to the margins of the field.

Pioneer Programmer by Jean Jennings Bartik This first-person account details the experiences of one of the original ENIAC programmers and illuminates the critical role women played in early electronic computing.

🔹 Early computer programming was initially considered "women's work" – similar to telephone operation or typing – until the 1960s when male managers deliberately reframed it as a complex, scientific pursuit requiring masculine traits. 🔹 The term "computer" originally referred to human workers (predominantly women) who performed mathematical calculations by hand, including those who worked on the ENIAC project during World War II. 🔹 Author Nathan Ensmenger is an Associate Professor at Indiana University's School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, and has spent over a decade researching the social and cultural history of software. 🔹 The book reveals how personality tests like the IBM Programmer Aptitude Test were used to create an ideal programmer profile that favored stereotypically male characteristics, effectively filtering out many qualified women. 🔹 By the mid-1980s, the percentage of women studying computer science began to decline sharply, coinciding with the rise of the personal computer being marketed primarily to boys and men as a gaming and tinkering device.