Hidden Figures is a biographical film that tells the story of three African American female mathematicians who worked for NASA in the 1960s. They were among the first women working in this organization, which was revolutionary in American society at a time when women and African Americans faced severe inequalities. The film features concepts critical to modern HR, such as ethics, leadership, inclusivity, equal opportunity, respect for minority groups, the smart use of power, delegation and empowerment, and stakeholder recognition and involvement, all of which are critical in organizations.
All three women protagonists are segregated in NASA because of their race and gender, meaning there is no inclusivity and respect for the minority groups; they do not have equal opportunities compared to white men employed in the company, and their involvement and recognition are limited. When one of the females, Mary, applies for the engineer position, her application is refused because her qualifications are insufficient, even though she has the required degree. Another protagonist, Katherine, often hears her co-workers express the view that women cannot be mathematicians, even though she handles all tasks without difficulty (Melfi, 2016). These examples show that discrimination based on gender is severe, and HR should pay attention to the way women are treated in the organization.
There are also examples of positive change in the workplace amid its unequal situation. For instance, Harrison, who holds the managerial position, questions Katherine about her long breaks, unaware that she had to walk almost one kilometer to reach the closest restroom designated for people of color. After she describes the discrimination she experiences at work, Harrison abolishes the bathroom for colored signs and ends the practice of segregating employees based on their race (Melfi, 2016).
This case is a positive example of effective human resource management because it shows that managers are unaware of the difficulties and inequalities the employees face in some situations. From one point of view, the employees need to tell their team leaders about the issues that make them feel segregated. From another perspective, leaders should understand these concerns about inequality before employees feel they can no longer cope with them.
The movie shows that in the 1960s, there was severe racial inequality in NASA. There were groups of professionals where only colored people of color worked, and there were places in the organization where only white employees were allowed (Melfi, 2016). This situation seems strange nowadays, given the absence of such racial inequality in contemporary organizational settings.
At the time, this division was considered expected, and white people did not see a problem with it. Modern HR managers should make parallels between their current work and this historical example to conclude. For instance, they should pay attention to the aspects of the organization that most people consider normal and analyze them from an inclusion and equality perspective for all employees involved in the project. Perhaps some aspects of inequality should be addressed before employees stage mass protests.
It states that human resource management is closely connected with most people’s beliefs. The dominant vision of gender and race in a particular culture is typically reflected in how people interact in the workplace. There are many instances of racial and gender inequality in the movie Hidden Figures, and not all of them are resolved. The film shows that effective human resource management should be people-oriented and analyze people’s needs in advance to avoid situations in which they cannot continue working in a toxic environment.
Reference
Melfi, T. (2016). Hidden figures. 20th Century Fox.