Cultural Changes In 1960s: Movie Hidden Figures
A study of movies could reveal the psychological makeup of society. Hidden Figures highlights the treatment of women and African Americans in the workforce during the 1960s. Further analysis of this film outlines the true views of society during this time exemplifying that although the film depicts the discrimination undergone by these women, it was not accurate to their experiences as society had progressed more than illustrated in the film. Therefore, films can reveal the structure of society to some extent as it may not be completely factual.
Hidden Figures, released in 2017, directed by Theodore Melfi, follows the journey of three female African American mathematicians who deal with racial and gender discrimination within society while additionally having a vital role in John Glenn’s launch into orbit. The film finally demonstrates some of the many heroes from history that, as a result of America's ingrained racism and sexism, have not received well-deserved credit and recognition for their work.
During the 1960s, there was cultural changes altering the role of women in society. More females than ever were entering the paid workforce. The analysis of Hidden Figures uncovers that women during the 1960s were especially marginalised. In the film, Katherine Johnson, along with her female colleagues, were continually doubted regarding their abilities and right within the workforce. Katherine is continually challenged by her male colleagues who at first, doubt her abilities to which she later proves their wrong. Although society had not fully eradicated the notion of patriarchy, the 60s were a time of protest movements including a fight against the disparities between the genders. Women were routinely excluded from high status or well-paying jobs. The women’s movement fought for equal job opportunities and questioned traditional gender roles and fought to change society’s view that a woman’s worth was based on her physical attractiveness.
Throughout, Western history, there has been unfair treatment of African Americans. This is evident in Hidden Figures as the discrimination against African Americans is exposed demonstrating the challenges they faced. From the beginning of Hidden Figures, specifically, when Katherine first gets her job, she is prejudiced against.
In Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson is forced to walk almost a kilometre to another building to use the coloured people's bathroom. However, Mary Jackson was the one who had to find her own way to a coloured bathroom. Katherine was originally unaware that the East Side bathrooms were segregated and used the unlabelled 'whites-only' bathrooms for years before anyone complained. She ignored the complaint, and the issue was dropped. In an interview with WHRO-TV, Katherine Johnson denied the feeling of segregation. 'I didn't feel the segregation at NASA, because everybody there was doing research. You had a mission and you worked on it, and it was important to you to do your job ... and play bridge at lunch. I didn't feel any segregation. I knew it was there, but I didn't feel it.'
