After the success of the film 'Hidden Figures' and the widespread awareness surrounding the #MeToo movement, Netflix's 'Mercury 13' is a new documentary that delves into some of the women who suffered from longstanding prejudices of the past. The film looks at the 13 female candidates for NASA space missions in the early 60s, striving to understand what prevented them from making history alongside their male counterparts.
Though NASA's astronauts were all men, it's interesting to note that one of Russia's first cosmonaut's was a woman: Valentina Tereshkova. But while the USSR seems to have had relatively forward-thinking ideas about gender, the US was firmly entrenched in a patriarchal ideology, and that is made clear thanks to the interviews and archival footage surfaced throughout Mercury 13.
Female Space Pioneer Documentaries
Netflix's 'Mercury 13' Examines NASA's Early Prejudices
Trend Themes
1. Gender Equality in Space Exploration - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in promoting equal representation of women in space missions.
2. Documentaries on Overlooked Pioneers - Opportunity to uncover and highlight the stories of pioneers who faced prejudice and discrimination.
3. Examining Historical Prejudices - Opportunity to learn from the past and challenge entrenched patriarchal ideologies in various industries.
Industry Implications
1. Film & Entertainment - Opportunity to produce more documentaries that shed light on overlooked narratives and pioneers.
2. Space Exploration - Opportunity to promote diversity and inclusion in the field and inspire the next generation of space explorers.
3. Gender Equality Advocacy - Opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for equal opportunities and representation in all industries and sectors.