National WebMistress Day

National WebMistress Day, celebrated on August 26th, was created to challenge the stereotype that programming is only for men and to highlight the achievements of women in IT. This holiday recognizes the vital contributions of women in technology and supports those who are building careers in web development and related fields.

History

National WebMistress Day was established by Kat Valentine in 1995, when she registered the domain webmistress.com to promote awareness about the important role women play in the evolution of digital technology.

Interesting Facts

1. Ada Lovelace, daughter of the poet Lord Byron, is considered the first computer programmer. In 1843, she translated and annotated an article by Charles Babbage, which included the first published computer algorithm.
2. Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr contributed to the development of wireless communication technologies, including foundational work for GSM cellular standards.
3. Grace Hopper is credited with creating the first computer compiler, which laid the groundwork for modern programming languages.
4. Radia Perlman, often called the “mother of the internet,” invented the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), a fundamental technology for network bridges.
5. Other trailblazing women in tech include Adele Goldberg, a key figure in developing Smalltalk; Marissa Mayer, who served as Yahoo!’s CEO; and Caterina Fake, co-founder of Flickr.

How to Take Part

Celebrate National WebMistress Day by acknowledging and congratulating female IT professionals you know. You can send a message on social media, write a letter, leave a positive review, or share a post about their accomplishments to inspire others and show appreciation.

When is National WebMistress Day in 2025?

National WebMistress Day is observed on August 26 each year.

Observations