Tonight (October 9th), I watched the film, Hidden Figures, for the second time. Even though I had previously seen this film in theaters, I was as engaged and interested in it as the first time I watched it! This move is so inspiring and uplifting to watch and leaves me feeling so empowered afterward. It is so great to see a movie about not only African Americans but African American women, which is still such a minority in our society today. This movie, based on real events, covers the lives of three black women, Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary. In this movie, one can experience the details and events that took place as these three women work to overcome great obstacles and move up the ranks of NASA to help launch astronaut, Glenn, into orbit on the Friendship 7. This movement is so important because not only did this launch turn around the program of NASA, but it is such an inspiring story that shows the actions of these women during this time. This was a big eye-opener for society to see such intelligent African American women during a time of great segregation against women and African Americans. In this movie, these women are allowed to work at NASA, however, we see the struggle they go through on the job. They are treated differently by others (for example, when Katherine walked into the meeting room, all the men stopped talking and stared). These women also have separate working areas and segregated bathrooms (Katherine brings up the point of how she had to run about a mile one way to use the bathroom during the day). Furthermore, when Mary Jackson goes to night school to be an engineer, the scene with the teacher really bothered me when he said, “the curriculum isn’t designed for teaching a woman”, as Mary quickly responds, “it’s the same as teaching a man.” These aspects of the movie go to show just how many obstacles these women had to face in the workplace and it’s amazing how they could overcome so much and be successful. Lastly, I love how at the end, people change their perspective on these women, for example, they start to respectfully refer to the women (referring to Dorothy as Ms. Vaughan) and even ask their opinions on work (John Glenn wanted Katherine’s mathematical work before taking off in orbit). Overall, I think the crew did a great job of creating this movie and accurately representing real events and how they opened doors to further the program of NASA, growing it into what it is today. 

     During the 60s when this movie takes place, and even today, women are underrepresented in STEM careers. I think this issue stems from years of segregation in this country. In the past, minorities including women were segregated against and treated unfairly compared to men, especially white men. During this time, stereotypes began to develop and mold society generation after generation. I think these stereotypes that still underline society, are the reason why women are still not represented in the STEM field. Women today may feel like the STEM field is not for women or too hard of a dream to accomplish and the rest of society may have this view too. Women need courage and drive to take on these jobs even with society’s view that the STEM field is a man’s field and not for women. As a teacher, you can plant this drive and determination in young girls mind as well as teach against the stereotype that the STEM field is for men because it deals with higher thinking subjects like math and science. Teachers can also teach young men and women that this is not how society is anymore. There have been so many great innovations in the years since segregation and women are beginning to take part in higher thinking careers and the STEM field, needs to be one of them. Teaching this in the classroom can be supported by showing this film as well. Personally, I would use this film around grade 4-5 to teach about women in society moving up the latter into more science-based fields. I think at this age students are more mature and have higher thinking skills so they would really learn a lot from this film because it will show young girls a real example to look up to and show them that they can dream big. It will also show young men that women belong in these fields and are equal to men. 

 

Higher Thinking Questions:

1. What issues do you see emerge from this movie?

2. Are these issues still seen in society today? Why do you think?

3. How can you make changes in your everyday life to break these stereotypes represented in the movie?

4. How does the science and math in the movie relate to your classroom?

5. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced the same segregation these women received in the movie?

6. In the film, only 3 women worked in NASA, so what kind of jobs do you think women typically had in the 1960s when this movie takes place?