The Reading Eagle – Louis M. Shucker
“In addition to proving immensely popular at the box office, “Hidden Figures” serves as a vehicle to encourage diversity in the science, technology, engineering and math curriculum known as STEM. It is helping to inform the ongoing conversation surrounding women and minorities in STEM related fields. By unceasing awareness of past gender and racial inequality, “Hidden Figures” has generated interest in addressing inequities that persist to this day. Studies have shown that male and female students perform equally as well in science and math standardized tests. Nevertheless, large gaps persist between white and black students. A 2015 index analysis shows that even as the number of STEM-related degrees and jobs continues to increase, deeply entrenched gaps between men and women and an even wider gap between whites and minorities remain in obtaining STEM degrees.”(more)