To me, her character is very realistic. She faced a lot of obstacles, but in the end her hard work payed off. The movie portrays women scientists as being amateurs that are not taken seriously. This movie compares science to religion as being a totally different aspect. But, in the ending, you find out that they aren't much different in reality.
People believe in religion much like scientists have faith and believe in their work.
I found Contact to have a truly remarkable plot. It was well thought out and opens your mind to many opinions and perspectives. The end of the movie leaves you to determine the outcome of her experience based on your individual beliefs. Like an abstract painting, what you get out of it is left up to your personal interpretations. It questions the beliefs of religion or the evidential facts of science.