Before we had computers (or a women's movement) computation was done using mechanical adders and such by women (since they are 'good' at rote, menial, repetitive tasks) "computers". When electronic computers came about they continued their role in running and even programming for them.
That is to say, people were "computers" before they became "computer programmers".
My father was a radio technician, branching out into all sorts of electronics and communications. If he'd be born 20 years later he'd almost certainly have been either an EE or a programmer.