'9 to 5' turns 40: The feel-good 1980 comedy covers a depressing reality even in 2020
Three women are sick of their "sexist, egotistical, lying hypocritical" boss in 1980's "9 to 5." Sound familiar?
"9 to 5," the award-winning film that premiered Dec. 19, 1980, tells the story of three working women (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton) who live their dream of standing up to their chauvinistic and misogynistic boss, Hart (played by Dabney Coleman). Though it's a timeless comedy, its themes of sexual harassment, misogyny and gender discrimination still resonate with us four decades later (2019's more depressing film, "The Assistant," portrays similar verbal abuse and sexism in the workplace).
This movie is filled with laughs as the three have elaborate fantasies about killing their boss. They eventually are able to take over the workplace themselves, only after holding Hart hostage in his own home.
It's a feel-good and timeless movie with an all-star cast, but despite the trio's entertaining marijuana high and silly tactics of vengeance, "9 to 5" exposes issues faced by women in the workplace even today.
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Women in leadership positions
In the film, Violet Newstead (played by Tomlin), a highly experienced and qualified employee at Consolidated Companies, is disheartened to learn that a male colleague was chosen for a promotion because of her boss' sexist attitude. Worst of all, she loses the job to an inexperienced and younger man whom she trained years ago.
Lucky for Violet, the film concludes with her being promoted to Hart's position as he is forced to relocate to Brazil. But women don't always achieve the happy ending that Violet was lucky enough to have, even in 2020 and with many laws and protections to ensure gender equality.
Though recent research shows that company profits can be almost 50% higher when women are well represented at the top, women are still underrepresented in entry-level management. McKinsey's recent diversity report concluded that in 2020, women held only 38% of manager-level positions.
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Sexual harassment in the workplace
Another prominent issue in the film is the sexual harassment faced by Hart's personal assistant, the bubbly and adorable Doralee Rhodes (played by Parton). Hart constantly makes inappropriate comments about her appearance and even fabricates rumors of an affair, which results in her female co-workers ostracizing her.
Viewers feel discomfort and empathy as kindhearted Doralee finally resorts to an aggressive tone of voice (and even a mention of her handgun) to stop her boss' sexual advances. Let's not forget one of the film's most iconic lines: "If you ever say another word about me or make another indecent proposal, I'm going get that gun of mine, and I'm gonna change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot!"
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Many accomplishments have been achieved since the film's release: The Supreme Court included sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the late 1980s, and the #MeToo movement has encouraged accusers to speak out against their harassers.
Despite these calls for justice, however, sexual harassment in the workplace remains prevalent: A recent Time's Up survey revealed that nearly 1 in 5 workers reported experiencing multiple forms of harassment, and more than half of the workers who identified their harasser indicated the perpetrator was their supervisor.
Time's Up study: 7 in 10 who report sexual harassment face retaliation
'9 to 5' is just as relatable in 2020
Considering the movie was made four decades ago, "9 to 5" impressively discusses an array of revolutionary and inspiring topics for women. The three protagonists gain the confidence not only to stand up for their boss but also to understand that their submission to a bigoted supervisor is unjust and unfair.
"9 to 5" illustrates the impact female leaders can have on work productivity as minor changes such as more flexible work hours, equal pay and even an onsite day care center contribute to the unprecedented successes of Consolidated Companies.
We should aspire to be as confident as Fonda's character, who learns through her friendships that she's worth much more than her sleazy ex-husband. We should aspire to be as persistent as Tomlin's character, who understands her value to the company and fights for what she deserves. We should aspire to be as strong-willed as Parton's character, who refuses to let anyone take advantage of her kindness.
That being said, we still haven't achieved the equality and feminism that this upbeat movie alludes to, and that's something we should always keep in mind.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: '9 to 5' turns 40, and its themes are more relatable than ever