The movie Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi in 2016, and the poem Thetis, written by Carol Ann Duffy in 1999, both show aspects and effects on marginalised groups of society, those being racism and sexism. In Thetis it shows the themes of masculinity corrupting a woman’s peaceful life, the stereotypes of women being considered snakes and having a shopping addiction, and the failed escapes from the patriarchy. On the other hand, Hidden Figures demonstrates racism through the separate coffee jugs, segregated bathrooms, and the character Mary Jackson. The first stanza of the poem Thetis mentions the impact masculinity and it’s physicality has on a woman’s life. It goes on about how the Greek nymph Thetis lived a peaceful life, feeling free, Peleus, a king with a strong sense of masculinity comes into her life after being exiled to …show more content…
Mary Jackson wanted to be an engineer but wasn’t able to due to her race. It was unrealistic to even consider a black woman having a high status job. She then has to overcome that by attending a specific school, which is only an all-white school. She is only able to attend there once a judge, very set in the traditional ways, reluctantly agrees to it and lets her go. “And I can’t change the colour of my skin”. So, I have no choice but to be the first, which I can’t do without you, sir. Your Honor, out of all the cases you’re going to hear today, which one is going to matter one hundred years from now? Which one is going to make you the first?” This quote was said by Mary when she was trying to convince the judge to let her go to an all white school, saying that because it was a segregated state, she would have to be the very first black person to attend and how it would be remembered as a big deal. Therefore racism is presented a lot throughout the movie and it’s scenes but also a lot through characters such as Mary