Jean Bartik, who was a pioneer in the field of computer programming, died at the end of March at the age of 86. She worked with a group of women who were the programmers of the first real fully electronic computer, the ENIAC, which debuted in 1946. At that time, the machine itself and its male inventors were heralded, but the women went unrecognized.
In fact, when Bartik was laid off in the 1980s from her programming job, she was unable to find another computer gig and instead became a realtor for 25 years.
Are women more recognized for their contributions to science and technology now than they were back in the 1940s?
Why are most programmers still men?
What steps can we take to get more women in technology?
The New York Times obituary on Jean Bartik
The CNN obituary on Jean Bartik