Happy 100th birthday, Admiral Grace
Categories: Money & work, In the news, That's entertainment
It's hard, sometimes, to find positive role models for girls. They're faced with examples like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Even in the business world, they're far more likely to hear about Carly Fiorina (boo! hiss!) than they are about Meg Whitman or Donna Dubinsky. Well, it's about time that changed. I've got an incredible role model for you.Chances are, you're reading this on a computer. Did you know that you wouldn't have a computer were it not for a woman? Admiral Grace Hopper was an early computer pioneer whose ideas led to the COBOL programming language. COBOL stands for COmmon Business-Oriented Language and it can be argued (and is by me) that by making computers accessible to businesses, there was a reason for companies to put money into research and the development of the personal computer.
Of course, Admiral Grace wasn't all business. She is most often credited with the saying "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission," a motto I follow. She is also credited with the term "computer bug", having found an actual moth caught in a relay in a Mark II computer at Harvard University.
There are plenty of books about Grace Hopper, including quite a few intended for younger children. Grace Hopper passed away in January, 1992, but if she were still alive, she would have turned 100 last Saturday. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't realize that until after the fact. Still, better late than never. Here's to an amazing woman and a fantastic role model!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lea 12-13-2006 @ 8:48AM
How cool. I'm going to remember to tell Baby A about Admiral Grace when she's a little older. You're right--the good role models are few.
- L
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Trisha 12-13-2006 @ 10:30AM
I agree, very cool.
I hope there are more role-models like Admiral Grace in the making. I too will be sure to tell my girl all about her when she's a little older.
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ann adams 12-13-2006 @ 10:38AM
She was amazing.
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Jenn 12-13-2006 @ 10:51AM
Ada Byron is also a tremendous role-model connected to mathematics, computing and science.
Women actually had a greater role in the development of computers and computing than a lot of people know.
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OmegaMom 12-13-2006 @ 10:14PM
I remember being a young-ish woman, eating lunch with my mom at the Waldorf in Chicago. I saw this woman, and I knew I recognized her...and then I realized it was Admiral Hopper. Man. Talk about gushing. I actually got her autograph...and have long since lost it, dammmit. You know you're a computer geek when you recognize someone like that...
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