In 1980 the comedy film 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman raised some talking points, behind the laughter some serious issues were at its core with the treatment of women within office enviornments. 40 years after the film Still Working 9 to 5 explores if things have ever got better for women in the workplace?
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Despite my absolute love for the song 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton, I am ashamed to say that it actually took me until 2021 to catch up and watch the film! I know that is utterly terrible and disgraceful as let’s face it this was a film that I was always going to enjoy, love and quite frankly relate to (yes, even after all of that time). I have spent my career working in a male dominated enviornment within sport and football, so fully understand the discrimation that women face within the working world which happens still across so many industries.
The format of this documentary brings up old interviews from when the film was released, how they came about putting it together and quite frankly how it became a passion project for all of those involved. Little did they know and realise that the impact of it would continue to this day. Mixed in with 40 years later, having more interviews with the original cast, showcasing that it being made into a musical on both Broadway and in the West End, perfect timing for the latter by the way and most importantly the Me Too movement and how 9 to 5 was touching upon this decades before.
Within the film sexual innuendos are throughout and it is always shown that the women had to just put up with it and couldn’t really say anything against it. Having to constantly do as they were told or they wouldn’t get a promotion, I mean let’s face it the promotions just weren’t happening anyway. You then get to the Me Too movement, and women eventually start speaking up and out about the terrible behaviour they had put up with while working and naturally a lot of extreme cases were also revealed. The part of the film showing a clip of Harvey Weinstein talking about the musical opening is somewhat haunting now, given everything we know about him. I felt as though the way that was addressed within the film was perfect executed.
It was a delight to see Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin all still being so passionate about the film and rights for women as they were 40 years ago and they really are true trailblazers and inspirations for all generations. We then have the wonderful collaboration between Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson for a version of 9 to 5, which I have to say I have listened to quite a lot on Spotify and didn’t realise it was fir this film!
The conclusion I’ve come to from this brilliant documentary is that while stides forward were made in some areas, in others equality is a long way off for equal pay in some sectors but we must as women stick together and keep fighting for more to level the playing field.
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