Limited opportunities for advancement: Despite her qualifications and skills, Mary Jackson faced limited opportunities for advancement due to her race and gender. She was initially assigned to menial tasks, such as calculating data and performing mathematical operations, and was denied the chance to work on more challenging projects.
Lack of recognition: For many years, Mary Jackson's contributions to NASA and the space program went unrecognized. She faced challenges in gaining visibility and credit for her work due to the prevailing prejudices and stereotypes.
Balancing work and family: Mary Jackson was also responsible for taking care of her family, including raising two children as a single mother. She had to balance the demands of her job with her family obligations, which added an extra layer of complexity and stress to her life.