Workshop and Conference
30-31 May 2008
Charles Babbage Institute
University of Minnesota

Computing remains one of the most gender-segregated domains of modern life, and yet the origins and implications of the gendered culture of computing have received little attention from historians. How and when did a male-coded world of computing emerge? How and why has it has persisted? What are the exceptions -- and promising strategies for change? We seek to bring gender analytics within the "mainstream" of the history of computing, while welcoming contributions from the many allied disciplines and specialties.

We invite contributions that give a historical analysis of gender and computing. Proposals must indicate a clear argument or theme to be presented, explain the empirical grounding of the research, including the sources used for analysis and the historiographic context. Gender is here understood broadly including insights and concepts from women's studies, feminist theory, and masculinity studies. Computing is understood to include hardware, software, systems, networking, services, computer science and engineering as well as the diverse uses of computing, including education, marketing, entrepreneurship, and popular representations. Thematically, the papers might involve:

Studies of gender and computing from any historical time or society-including those before 1945 and/or from any part of the world;

Commentary on the available sources for the study of gender and computing, with identification of new (or needed) types and genres of documentation;

Investigation of gender in (e.g.) computer science/engineering curricula, professional and technical communities, career paths, division of labor, and popular culture;

Analysis of artifacts, visual representations, as well as texts that reveal the assumptions and dynamics of gender relationships in computing.

Eight papers will be selected for presentation; there will also be a poster session showcasing additional voices and perspectives. Accepted papers and posters will be pre-circulated to all conference participants. Friday will be a public "conference" for the presentation and open discussion of the themes and issues raised by the papers. Saturday will be a "workshop" for the paper authors, aiming at focused discussion, elaboration of research agendas, and possible publication. Travel and lodging expenses will be covered for the eight paper presenters. Additional funding may be available for graduate students and early-career scholars.

Proposals for papers and posters (250 words + maximum 2-page CV) are due by 1 December 2007. The program committee will announce acceptances by mid-January 2008. Accepted papers and posters are due 30 April for pre-circulation to conference participants on CD. Please direct questions to . For details, literature, and links see .

Program Committee: Janet Abbate (VT); Tom Misa (Minnesota); Veronika Oechtering (Bremen); Jeff Yost (CBI)

Charles Babbage Institute 211 Andersen Library University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN 55455 USA www.cbi.umn.edu