Comment by TylerE

I heard an intresting argument once, I think it was on Planet Money or Freakanomics, that argued that early personal computer advertising had a major role. Early on it was a career or maybe a video game. In the early 80s when home systems like the C64 and TRS-80 were hitting the market they were marketed, essentially, as toys for boys.

So people bought them for their kids.

Their male kids.

Fast forward 10 years and the comp sci demographics shift.