Hidden Figures is the book I have been waiting
for. As a woman engineer that has often
been the only woman in the room, it was inspiring to read about women in the
past who persevered to have the careers they dreamed of in the mathematics and
engineering fields. I never knew that
women were behind the calculations that put Americans on the moon and helped
develop better aircraft during and after WWII.
Hidden Figures tells the story of many women, but
focuses on Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Groble Johnson, and Mary Jackson. During
WWII, Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory was faced with a problem – how could they get enough
mathematicians and human “computers” to do the calculations necessary to get
state of the art aircraft designed for the war effort? They decided to start advertising at colleges
for mathematicians including all black colleges. They hired a number of highly qualified women
with great mathematical skills who put in their all to make both the war effort
and space program a success. While doing
so, they also helped to bring their families a better life.
I’ve honestly struggled with this book review. I could
write a multi-page review and go into depth about each woman and their lives,
but I don’t think that is effective. The book has such a great depth to it, it
is hard to narrow it down for a review and give it justice. I bookmarked fifty or so quotes I loved so I’ll
have to narrow it down to. What did I
love about the book? What I loved the
most was learning about women that were successful in the STEM field. When you are growing up and thinking about
going into the STEM field, there are not many role models to look up to. That is why I am also so excited about the
movie. Having it become the norm to show
the reality of women working in these fields will hopefully encourage other
young women to pursue a career in these fields.
I also love that it is finally giving these women credit for all of
their hard work.
I also loved that the book told the story of many
women who worked at Langley, but focused on these women. I loved learning their stories, their lives
and struggles and how they were able to use their love of math to get a college
education and a rewarding career.
Hidden Figures also gave a unique look into history.
These women worked at NASA, but were not considered equal. Over time they were able to work for equality
and a way to break through the glass ceiling.
Why were women with the same qualification as men hired at a lower grade
and not allowed to progress up to as high a grade as similarly qualified
men? They worked hard to dispel the myth
that “men were uniquely qualified to be engineers.” I learned a lot more about
the segregated south as well. It seems
so strange to me that African Americans not only couldn’t use bathrooms or
drinking fountains that white people used, but they couldn’t even check out
books from the library that weren’t from the colored section. They also couldn’t attend the same schools
which forced each town to try to staff two different schools, which was not
always effective. The segregation made
it very hard for a woman of color to be able to make it in a technical field,
but these women persevered and made it.
I’ve narrowed down a few favorite quotes:
“As a child, however, I knew so many African Americans
working in science, math, and engineering that I thought that’s just what black
folks did.” – Author Margot Lee Shetterly.
I thought this was awesome. If we
can change the stereotype of only white males being in these fields, I think we
could attract more qualified people to them.
“You men and women working here far from the sound of
drums and guns, working in your civilian capacity in accordance with you highly
specialized skills, are winning your part of this war: the battle of research. This war is being fought in the laboratories
as well as on the battlefields.”
“Being an engineer, Mary Jackson would eventually
learn, meant being the only black person, or the only woman, or both, at
industry conferences for years.” I still
find myself the only woman at engineering meetings, but it’s gotten better.
“They wouldn’t get rich, but an engineer’s salary was more
than enough to crack into the ranks of the comfortable middle class.” I always tell this to my family who thinks
engineers live in mansions.
“There wasn’t one day I didn’t wake up excited to go
to work.” – Katherine Johnson
“She was still juggling the duties of Girl Scout mom,
Sunday school teacher, trips to music lessons, and homemaker for her two
daughters in addition to her full time work at Langley.” I felt like this was a page out of my life!
Overall, Hidden Figures told a compelling true story
that all Americans should know about the hidden women who helped to make our air
and space program a success. I learned a
lot from this book and can’t wait to see the movie!
Book Source:
Review Copy from William Morrow.
Thanks!
I sadly started my top 10 book list last year and
never posted it. So, I decided this year
to make things simpler by making my list just a list with links to the original
reviews. Let’s discuss what you think of
my list in the comments below. What were
your favorite books of 2017? Were any
the same as mine?
