Marketing Strategies of the 1960s-1980s: Women in Miniskirts Promote Computer Systems

During the 1960s to 1980s, it was not uncommon for advertisers to use women in revealing outfits, particularly miniskirts, to promote computer systems. These tactics were meant to appeal to a male-dominated industry, with the idea that sex sells being exploited to grotesque ends.

However, it’s important to note that the use of computers in the workplace during this time also brought about significant technical, organizational, and social changes. The increasing affordability of hardware and the growth of time-sharing services made it possible for small businesses to access mainframe computers. This shift led to a rapid increase in the demand for new job qualifications in both offices and manufacturing.

While it’s true that computer systems were initially installed at computer centers in the 1960s, the high operating costs meant that they needed to run constantly to be profitable.

h/t: flashbak