Without thinking he says “that’s pretty heady stuff – do they let women handle that sort of work?” In the middle of a movie that highlights racial discrimination, this bit of gender bias shows that discrimination can take many forms.Ħ. As Colonel Jim Johnson (played by Mahershala Ali) is trying to woo Katherine Goble, he learns that she works as a computer at NASA. Just as we were getting used to the shocking depictions of discrimination fueled by racism and bigotry, the movie threw us a bit of a curve. Even with the best intentions, bias can make your talent feel unwelcome. (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) meet the man they helped send into orbit, John Glenn (Glen Powell), in Hidden Figures. Henson), flanked by fellow mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan. This small gesture makes a significant impression on the women, and gives them a greater sense of inclusion and belonging. Rather than skipping them, John Glenn (played by Glen Powell) walks over to shake hands with them. When a team of astronauts visits Langley, the entire staff is lined up outside to greet them, with the women of color relegated to the far end of the line. Small gestures go a long way in creating a sense of belonging. Faced with monumental odds against her, she asks the judge: “Out of all the cases you are going to hear today, which one is going to make you the first?” No matter how daunting the challenge may seem, you should not be afraid to be the first, and you should support those on your team who have the desire to break new ground.Ĥ. ![]() In one of the most powerful scenes in the movie, Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monáe) needs a judge’s permission to attend classes at a local white school – at a time when Virginia was still segregated. This opened the door for Langley to expand their talent search to include women of color, with spectacular results.ģ. Just two years earlier, President Roosevelt had signed Executive Order 8802, ordering the desegregation of the defense industry. ![]() Women began being recruited at Langley in 1935, but by 1943 the need for talent was becoming desperate. ![]() However, as explained in the book, the United State’s involvement in World War II created huge demand for skilled labor in the Defense Sector. In the movie, the storyline justifies Katherine Goble’s appointment simply by mentioning that Harrison's Space Task Group was looking for a new “computer” (literally, a person to perform manual calculations). Strive to be more inclusive to gain access to a greater talent pool.
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