Emotional Suppression

Emotional suppression is a central theme in the novel, explored through the personal and professional lives of the female astronauts, particularly Joan, and the various compromises they are forced to make in order to survive within the patriarchal, hyper-disciplined environment of NASA. The narrative interrogates the emotional costs of success in such a system and the complex tension between vulnerability and control. While the novel is critical of the institutional and cultural forces that demand suppression, it also acknowledges, with a certain degree of irony, that emotional restraint can be a necessary skill in high-stakes contexts like space travel.

Joan’s emotional suppression is introduced early and runs deep, particularly in relation to her sexuality. For much of the novel, Joan is not only closeted to others but to herself. She has internalized society’s messages so thoroughly that she does not initially recognize her...