Code: Debugging the Gender Gap facts for kids

CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap is a documentary film from 2015. It was made by Robin Hauser Reynolds. The film explores why there are not enough women and minority groups working in software engineering.

It first showed on April 19, 2015, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The movie aims to inspire young girls to choose careers in computer science. It does this by showing the lives of successful women in computer programming.

Some of these amazing women include Danielle Feinberg from Pixar, Aliya Rahman from Code for Progress, and Julie Ann Horvath. By sharing their stories, the filmmakers want to show that computer science can be a fun, creative, and rewarding job. It can also help you earn a good living.

The Story of Women in Tech

The film looks back at the history of women in technology in the United States. It starts with pioneers like Ada Lovelace, who is often called the first computer programmer. It also features Grace Hopper, a famous computer scientist and Navy admiral. The movie also talks about the women who worked on ENIAC, one of the first electronic computers.

Why Did Numbers Change?

The documentary then shows how the number of women graduating in math and computer science started to drop in the 1980s. It suggests that movies and cultural ideas at the time began to show only men and boys as tech experts. This made the tech world seem less welcoming for women and girls.

Inspiring Women Today

The film also highlights the important work of women in the tech industry today. It includes interviews with many inspiring leaders.

• Kimberly Bryant is the founder of Black Girls Code. This group teaches coding skills to young Black girls.
• Debbie Sterling started GoldieBlox. This company creates toys and books to encourage girls in engineering.
• Maria Klawe is the president of Harvey Mudd College. This college is known for its strong science and engineering programs.
• Danielle Feinberg is a director of photography at Pixar. She uses her computer skills to create amazing animated films.

These women show that there are many different and exciting paths in computer science.

How the Film Was Made

Part of the money to make CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap came from a website called Indiegogo. This is where many people can donate small amounts of money to support a project. The director, Robin Reynolds, also received funding from large companies. These companies included CapitalOne, MasterCard, Ericsson, NetApp, Qualcomm, and Silicon Valley Bank. Their support helped bring this important story to the screen.

Awards and Recognition

The film has received awards for its important message.

• It won the Gold Audience Award for Active Cinema at the Mill Valley Film Festival in 2015. This award shows that the audience loved the film and its call to action.