How did you first get into computing?

The route to a computing career is often circuitous. As part of the ongoing research on the history of women in computing, we conducted oral history interviews with pioneers in the field, during which we asked about their first encounters with computers. Although individual experiences varied, a common thread in these stories is that womenʹs opportunities were constrained by gender stereotypes, outright discrimination, and the demands of marriage and family. At the same time, computing was a relatively welcoming field for women, and it offered them a rare chance to put their technical abilities to work. Womenʹs first experiences with computers often led to a challenging, enjoyable, and financially rewarding career.