1. Looking at the Table of Contents and the back of the book, I predicted that I would be learning a lot about American history during the war years. I felt I would learn more about space travel and I did. I also thought I'd see how four women overcame problems and became successful at what they did.  I was correct, but I learned much more than I thought. In these four chapters I gained more insight about how poorly black people in the U.S. were treated. I knew women did not have work opportunities like men, but was unaware of how closed down the hiring system was in science and space travel. I was concerned I'd have trouble with new vocabulary words with science, math, and space. I did have to look up more words than I thought I would, but I enjoyed learning new words.

2. I made connections with some of the history because I studied World War II, civil rights, and women's rights before. I also had a female friend who was an engineer and she told me how difficult it was to be working with so many men. She said only one other female was in her division.  I knew what it was like to only have a few jobs available to women in the U.S. When I was growing up, only five occupations were available to me: teacher, nurse, secretary, airline hostess, and if I got married, a housewife. I started out as a secretary in a department of all men at age 19.

3.  What stood out for me was how difficult it was for black women to be employed at good jobs besides being a teacher at an all-black school. Even though I was limited as a white female, I still had many more choices than they did. And I could choose the schools I wanted to go to, including college. Their choices were black schools only. I was also amazed at how Dorothy Vaughan made the decision to leave her husband and four children to move away for a long period of time, all for the opportunity of a new career. That was extremely courageous of her.

NOW PLEASE WRITE YOUR OWN RESPONSE TO THE THREE QUESTIONS [label each 1, 2, 3]

Please do not use what I wrote here. These are only suggestions. Write down your own ideas and words. Thank you.

When finished, go back after other students have posted, and respond to two other students.

Discussion ends Monday, March 08, midnight.