![]() These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Posted by Flatiron School / January 15, 2016 Current policies, offerings, procedures, and programs may differ. ĭisclaimer: The information in this blog is current as of 15 January 2016. Anita Borg art by Flatiron School Instructor Mitch Boyer. Happy Birthday, Anita Borg! Thank you for making our community even better. Advocating for women was her part in helping all people secure the power to shape their own futures. In a time when technology touches people’s social, political, economic, and personal lives, it should serve everyone, regardless of their gender, age, or level of tech savviness. This diversity of thought would not only make the industry richer in the short run, but would help future technologies make a positive impact. The beauty of Borg’s advocacy lied in the belief that rallying women’s voices would add a distinct, yet critical perspective to technology. Ultimately, they played a role in getting Mattel to remove the phrase. Because girls were playing with Barbies at an age when confidence in their math abilities needed to be bolstered, not undercut, protest stirred among the Systers list. Mattel’s Teen Talk Barbie was programmed to say 270 phrases including “Math class is tough.” If this doesn’t sound familiar to you, allow us to direct your attention to the recent Barbie: I Can Be a Computer Engineer controversy. One of these occasions happened in 1992 when a talking Barbie complained about math class. But on occasion, non-technical discussion was sanctioned. In general, Systers provided a place for technical women to discuss highly technical topics. She helped show Barbie that math is for everyone, not just boys We must be there in order to assure that the technology of the future serves us well.” 3. We need both kinds of women… At IWT, we think that women must be involved in every aspect of defining the future of technology, from policy to research to design and implementation. “There are many ways that women can impact technology without being IN technology. According to Borg, the Institute was started to ensure women (regardless of whether or not they worked in tech) had opportunities to shape the technologies of the future. She also founded the Institute for Women and Technology. Now the world’s largest gathering of its kind, this conference started with 500 attendees and was dedicated to bringing women’s achievements and research in computer science to the forefront. In 1994, while attending a conference with a notable lack of female representation, Borg had dinner with Telle Whitney and started the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. This work gained momentum when she founded the online community Systers in 1987-years before online communities (let alone global communities of women in computer science) were a thing. ![]() In 2015, Borg is best remembered for her work supporting, celebrating, and advocating for women who wanted to impact technology. She created communities of women in computing She later attended New York University and received a PhD in Computer Science. Her extra-office studies clearly sparked a passion. She taught herself how to program while putting her husband through school, working as a “ girl Friday” in a small insurance company. She taught herself how to programīorg always loved math, but had not planned to turn this into a career in computer science. In honor of her 66th birthday tomorrow, here are three reasons to celebrate her memory. Although she was a respected computer scientist, she is given the most credit for her tireless advocacy for and mentorship of women in computing. This blog originally appeared on January 16, 2015.Īnita Borg dedicated her career to making the tech industry a better place.
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