Future of Coding

A Case for Feminism in Programming Language Design by Felienne Hermans

Feb 16, 2025
Guest
Felienne Hermans
Felienne Hermans, a programming language researcher known for her work on Hedy, discusses the critical intersection of feminism and programming language design. She reveals the biases in academia that prioritize formal research over human-focused studies, which can stifle diverse contributions. With personal anecdotes, she emphasizes the need for inclusivity and the significance of addressing gender dynamics in the field. The conversation also highlights how outdated norms in academia affect women's participation and advocates for a more nuanced understanding of gender in tech.
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ANECDOTE

Pre-Talk Jitters

  • Steve was nervous presenting his talk after Felienne Hermans.
  • Her talk was the best he saw, covering a great paper he'd already read.
INSIGHT

First-Person Perspective

  • The paper, "A Case for Feminism in Programming Language Design," uses first-person, unusually.
  • Felienne and Ari Schlesinger explore why the first author doesn't feel at home in the PL community.
ANECDOTE

Author Contributions

  • The paper uses "I," and a footnote clarifies the authors' contributions.
  • Felienne writes from personal experience; Ari shaped the argument, adding sources and context.
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