Gender Barrier Broken as Woman Wins Award Stephen Fung February 25, 2007 Extras She looks like she could anyone’s Granny and Lord knows she’s certainly old enough at 74, but Frances E. Allen doesn’t spend her days baking cookies. Allen joined IBM in 1957 after completing a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Michigan. At the time, IBM recruited women by circulating a brochure on campuses that was titled “My Fair Ladies.” Source: CNN Share This With The World!