What is Ada Lovelace Day?

Since 2009, on March 24th, bloggers around the world honor women's achievements in technology and science. Ada Lovelace Day is named in honor of the daughter of Lord Byron, who wrote the world’s first computer programs for the Analytical Engine, a general-purpose machine that Charles Babbage had invented. She also wrote the very first description of a computer and of software. Online writers and broadcasters can pledge to celebrate Ada Lovelace day at http://findingada.com. Below, you'll find Tekserve's post in honor of Ada Lovelace Day.

Women in Technology Profile:
Deb Travis, Mac Technician at Tekserve

Written by Greg Wasserstrom, Tekserve Staff

Today is Ada Lovelace day and it seemed natural to us that we should highlight our very own Deb Travis. Deb is one of Tekserve's most senior technicians and if you've ever brought in a laptop with a complicated problem, there's a good chance Deb has looked at it.

Deb lectures about Technology once a year at the all-girls Chapin School in NYC, to inspire a new generation of young women to consider technological fields. We caught up with her after the lecture to talk about women in technology.

Why do you talk to young women about careers in technology?

At the Chapin School, I think they do a lot of work year-round to remind the girls that any resistance they might feel shouldn’t stop them from pursuing technology. For whatever reason a lot of gender stuff is getting more codified in kids right now.

When I was a kid, there was a definite push from the feminist side to treat girls the same as boys. Resistance was something that girls were encouraged to fight through and kind of wear as a little badge of honor. That idea sounds dated beyond understanding to these 13 year-old girls, so we have to find new ways to communicate to them that they have permission to pursue science and technology.

So you’re trying to demonstrate that girls have permission to pursue science and tech careers?

Right. It’s interesting: when women were first kind of coming into the tech in the 90s, there was the sense that they needed permission to work with tools in a way that men didn’t. Women didn’t really grow up using tools. This wasn’t the first time I’d held a screwdriver, but there were definitely women who could have done this but were intimidated by tools and the look of the job. The fact is, technology is one of the few skills-based white collar careers that still exist. Once you learn the skills, you have a body of knowledge that’s valuable.

What prepared you to for your job as a technician?

Why did you join Tekserve?

I was a Tekserve customer at a time when they had no female employees. David Lerner, one of the owners, was looking for women because he sensed – correctly, I think – that his female customers would be more at ease going to a place where there were other women. Even if you don’t necessarily intend to create a locker room, that’s what it becomes if there’s no gender balance. David understood that.

What are some of the other challenges you face working as a female technician?

Customers often assume that I’m a guy when I talk to them on the phone. The language of repair is, itself, so gendered that people talk to me like they’re talking to the guys on Car Talk or something. It’s a very jocular way of communicating.

Do you have any funny stories about working in a male-dominated field?

Yes! People used to ask to speak to a male technician if they didn’t agree with what I thought was wrong. I mean, they wouldn’t actually ask to speak to a guy, just “someone else,” but at the time there were no other female techs. It was a really great day when there was finally another lady to bring out and be like, “Here you go!”

Is there anything you see happening now that’s a particularly promising harbinger of change?

Well, it’s always cool when young girls come into the shop. Girls aren't sometimes brought to Tekserve because it’s assumed, in some subtle way, that girls wouldn’t be interested in coming here as often as boys.

What would you say to women considering careers in technology, math, or science?

I guess I would say that if you have a passion about something you can probably add a technical component and make it a career. And the thing that’s empowering about technology, math, and science is that you’re encouraged to solve problems and think outside of how things are already done and change the paradigm as much as possible. And like all practical things, one thing leads to another. If you get used to taking your computer apart, you’re going to be much more comfortable putting some new tile in your bathroom.

Published March 22, 2010 7:33 PM
Last modified on March 24, 2010 3:06 PM