Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures is one of my favorite movies. I can't wait for the DVD to release, so that I can watch it again and again. It is very powerful and inspiring.

I watched the movie in a company Women in Technology group event with Jack. For Jack, it was special because it was about NASA and the early space program. To me, it was that and more. It was about the company I work for and its early contribution to the space program; about women in technology; and about being a minority in the workplace. The movie stirred up so much emotion in me. I was in awe of the unfair treatment these brilliant black women received in the highest technological institution in the U.S.; and I cheered for their hard-earned, well deserved triumph.

Being a Chinese-American woman in technology, I could somewhat relate to these hidden figures.

I teared up at the scene when Katherine Johnson had to jog a mile and a half to use the designated colored bathroom, sometimes in pouring rain, and then later wrongly accused by the ignorant mission director - Al Harrison, played by Kevin Costner, who was actually a good guy in the story - of taking long breaks. I felt that nobody should be treated that way, no matter what kind of work she did for a living and what race she was. I clapped when Al Harrison knocked down the Colored Bathroom sign and said: "Here at NASA we all pee the same color." My heart was filled with pride when John Glenn said: "Let's have the girl check the numbers, the smart one."

Not that I experienced terrible treatments in my life. In fact, I am one of the lucky woman that had many successful women role models in my path, and I'm thankful that because of them and my own hard work, I can live to my own full potential. My very first office-mate at work, and hence my first mentor, was a woman who is now a lead researcher and master inventor. The CEO of the company I work at is a woman; and we have many women are in different levels of management and technical leadership roles. There are so many men and women who gave me mentorship and I am grateful.

Discrimination comes in many shapes and forms. Nobody would say to your face that you are not smart enough because you are a woman, or because of the color of your skin. But it does come in very subtle ways. Many years ago in a technology conference, when I went to ask them a question, a couple of guys at the information desk asked me: "What are you doing here? Smile at people?" Being not quick on my feet, the only answer I could give was: "No, I'm here to work." The sense of insult only creep in later on.

Honestly I never really understand why people believe that men are smarter than women. Men may be able to achieve greater things because the society is so much more willing and ready to let them succeed and thrive. Through my school years and career, I always do as well if not better than my male counterparts in all subjects and tasks. Of course, some of those tasks were more difficult for me, but they were just as difficult for my male counterparts, and I just don't give up.

Moreover, I believe that by working together, men and women complement each other in skills. We use different methods and thought process to solve problems, and usually make higher performance teams.

It really sadden me that in this modern day, some of my college educated girl friends were unhappy when they had daughters instead of sons. One of my high school classmate ended up with three daughters when she decided to quit trying to have a son. I asked my friend who was expecting a daughter at the time why she wanted a son. She said it would so difficult for a woman to struggle and survive in this society, and it would be so much easier for a man. That maybe true, but I told her it depended on how she raise her daughter, and what kind of values she taught her. Do me and yourself a favor, if you have a daughter, teach her that everything is possible as long as she is willing to try hard to succeed.

There are smart people in both genders and in every race. Human value should not be measured based on intelligence or race. The bottom line is, we should all respect and be kind to each other despite our differences, and the world would be a better place. But, this ideal is only a dream that is further away from us as we speak.