In the mid-80's, personal computers started showing up in peoples homes and being marketed as a toy and learning tool. This incredible advance in technology was something that defined this era as the beginning of the technological age. However, it is no coincidence that the decline of women in computer science started at roughly the same time personal computers started showing up in people's homes. These early personal computers were encouraged for youth, however they were marketed almost exclusively towards boys.

     The personal computer was just the beginning of the masculinization of the field. As society encouraged more and more boys to get involved in computing, the lack of encouragement for girls started a steady decline in their desire to enter, or continue in the field. This created the common perception that it was a "man's world", a stereotype that continues today. As men began to gain a larger monopoly on the field, it created an inhospital environment for females, and a strong lack of female role-models.

The Rise of the Personal Computer