The beginnings of IT were women's work

Women as computer pioneers

ENIAC is considered one of the first computers to be used by the US Army in the 1940s, primarily for war purposes. Although it was invented by men, it was the six female programmers Francis Betty Snyder Holberton, Betty Jean Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum and Frances Bilas Spence who made the device, which weighed more than 20 tonnes, work. Their groundbreaking work was not recognised until 50 years later.

When the Data Processing Management Association first honoured the "Man of the Year" in computer science at the end of the 1960s, the award went to computer scientist Grace Hopper. She invented the first programming language.

And John Glenn's orbit of the earth with the spaceship? This much is certain: without the calculations of the three African-American women Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson, the NASA astronaut would not have flown into space so quickly. The latter mathematician, together with Grace Murray Hopper, was also instrumental in the success of the first moon landing.

As you can see, IT was not always a male domain. The sudden change is explained, among other things, by the advent of personal computers and the accompanying commercialisation of the industry through video games. These were primarily aimed at young men. Gender stereotypes also contributed to women withdrawing from the IT sector.

"Technical ability has nothing to do with gender"

The reasons why women in IT - both on the labour market and at universities - are still significantly less common than their male colleagues today range from unfair working conditions to gender-based socialisation starting in childhood.

We are therefore all the more pleased as a university that a number of female IT experts at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences have opted for our Department of Information Technology. After all, they are the ones who can bring about a rethink in society and act as role models for young girls and women. And even though we know that many more women need to take their places in our IT lecture theatres, we are proud of those female students and graduates who are continuing to write the history of the first female programmers and computer scientists with us.

That's why today, on International Women's Day, we're raising the curtain on some of our female role models:

Nicole Marhold has a Bachelor's degree in IT Infrastructure Management and is currently studying for a Master's degree in Cloud Computing Engineering. She works in the IT security team at the Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Eisenstadt.

Patrizia Sailer completed a Master's degree in Cloud Computing Engineering, now teaches in the Department of Information Technology and currently works as a software developer at the AIM - Austrian Institute of Management.

Jennifer Wolfgeher has a Bachelor's degree in IT Infrastructure Management, a Master's degree in Cloud Computing Engineering and a Master's degree in Digital Media and Communication. She works in the Information Services department at FH Burgenland.

Uli Reiner has a Master's degree in Cloud Computing Engineering and currently works as an SAP specialist for the MM/SD modules.

Silke Palkovits-Rauter is head of the Business Process Engineering and Management Master's programme and teaches gender studies and diversity management, among other subjects.

Tanja Buczkowski is studying for a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and Networked Systems at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences and works as a programmer.

Iris Bole has a Master's degree in Business Process Engineering and Management.

Katharina Waldner has a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering and Networked Systems.