Came Quote by Brenda Laurel
“When I got started, I was a sideshow. At my first Consumer Electronics Show, in 1977 in Chicago, people came from all over the floor to see the 'lady programmer.' They had me dressed in a turquoise lab coat with my name embroidered on the pocket.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Consumer Electronics Show, 1977, Chicago
She felt objectified as a novelty, highlighting gender bias in tech and the pressure to conform to stereotypes.
In simple terms: She was treated as a spectacle.
Key Takeaway
Challenge stereotypes and claim agency.
Themes
gender
technology
representation
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
historical
personal
When to use this quote
- tech conferences
- women in STEM
- public speaking
Key Concepts
feminism
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be a “lady programmer”?
- How can tech events become more inclusive?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may oversimplify broader systemic issues.
![“My first job was a show called The Others. I had, like, three lines. Julianne Nicholson was in it, and Gabriel [Macht]. I remember Gabriel wasn't there the day I was, but he sent a note, because he went to Carnegie Mellon as well, so we knew each other a little bit through that, and he was so…” quote by Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7e/zachary-quinto-4021_bits_my-first-job-was-a-show-called-the-other_1262265.jpg)
