"The Help" and world-building - did anyone else notice THIS?

Okay, so I know "The Help" isn't exactly spaceships and lasers, but hear me out. I'm Kevin, and yeah, I'm usually lost in sci-fi galaxies, but I appreciate solid world-building no matter the genre. And, honestly, "The Help" kinda blew me away with the detail they put into recreating 1960s Mississippi. It felt so... lived-in, y'know? Like you could almost smell the humidity and hear the cicadas. But here's what REALLY got me thinking: aren't they essentially creating a dystopian society? I mean, think about it! The whole structure is built on systemic oppression, defined roles, and an invisible power dynamic. It's not some fictional planetary system, but it's still a totally alien world from my perspective as a dude in 2024. The casual racism, the way the white women treat Aibileen and Minny... it's horrifying, and almost feels like a sci-fi concept when you think about the control and the forced roles people play. So, my question is, did anyone else see "The Help" this way? Less of a historical drama and more of a grounded, real-world dystopia? I'm so curious if I'm totally reaching here, or if you guys picked up on that too. Like, the rules aren't written, but they're enforced, right? And what's more sci-fi than exploring societal rules taken to their extreme? Also, Octavia Spencer is just phenomenal, isn't she? I was completely captivated by her performance. Maybe I'm just overthinking it as usual, but I'd love to hear some other opinions!