The article has evidence for something that I've long suspected -- that the opportunities for women in math and science actually got worse after World War 2 than it was before the war. The article mentions that more women got Ph.D.'s in math in the 30s than in the 50s, even though many more Ph.D.'s were issued in the 50s. It shows that progress is far from inevitable.
They were quite open about it: women were supposed to move out to make room for returning servicemen. Women were allowed to program because it was, ignorantly, considered a clerical task.
I always heard that opportunities briefly opened up for women during the war, because the men were away, and then when the men came back they had to "make room" as you say. But it was worse than that. Women lost progress that they had made before the war even started.
Terribly misleading post title - that is a quote by Grace Hopper about Ada Lovelace, not a quote about Grace Hopper herself. The title is "Grace Hopper, computing pioneer" and it's from 2014.
You are probably right, thanks. For me, this was what stood out. The link or connection that my brain made between what I know(a loop), and what the article is trying to teach me. Hopefully, others like me with no CS background, will also find it inspiring.
