Changing the Recipe: Women and Power in the film, Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi, is an inspiring true story that follows three brilliant African American women, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, who worked at NASA during the 1960s.

The film traces their journey as they confront racial and gender discrimination while making critical contributions to America’s space race. Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy are skilled and highly intelligent people, but throughout the film, they learn to advocate for themselves, challenge authority, and most importantly, demand recognition.

Importantly, Hidden Figures doesn’t paint all white characters as villains. Instead, it reveals how ignorance, not pure hatred, often fuels discrimination. Characters like Al Harrison and the Judge Mary appeals to are not portrayed as malicious; they are simply unaware of the injustices they perpetuate. Just like how life is not a simple black and white lens, the characters are not filmed as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. For example, Harrison initially ignores the segregation Katherine faces until it interferes with his work. This results in him being forced to see the difference Katherine is treated in comparison to the other white workers. He ends up tearing down the  “colored bathroom” sign. Even the judge Mary confronts chooses to help not because he believes in equality, but because he wants to be remembered as “the first.” These moments reveal how social change often begins with self-interest, then grows into understanding. These portrayals show that change is possible, even within rigid systems.

The husbands also reflect this message. Initially, holding traditional views of gender roles, they gradually learn the importance of supporting their wives’ ambitions and rooting for them. At its heart, Hidden Figures is about personal growth. While the film celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan at NASA, it also tells a broader story about how individuals, regardless of race and gender, can learn and rise above limitations.