Katherine G. Johnson: Despite all of the struggles she went through, Johnson was able to complete calculations for NASA’s Apollo II mission to the moon and the Space Shuttle. It is shared in the epilogue that she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015, and that a computational building was named in her honor by NASA in 2016.
Biases, stereotypes, and values based on race and gender have been and still are immensely influential in differing institutions and how we perceive and treat one another. Because they are so deeply ingrained in our culture, scientific work reflects and justifies these biased concepts and ideals. This cyclical link between culture and science allows racial and gender biases to be continuously perpetuated in society. These very biases are displayed in how different characters interact with Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures, yet she defies the expectations of those around her. Within the media, it is important to showcase such struggles and issues associated with cultural biases. Providing platforms to such stories that push back against racial and gender beliefs and stereotypes is vital for differing representation.
Images:
https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-names-new-building-after-math-genius-katherine-johnson-2017-9
References
Basow, Susan. Gender Stereotypes and Roles.
Okruhlik, Kathleen. Gender and the Biological Sciences.
Schiebinger, Londa. Nature’s Body.
Hidden Figures: Race and Gender Roles 