When I think about movies that reflect the latter, especially regarding women, there are some typical choices such as "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "An Unmarried Woman". An unlikely choice though would be "Saturday Night Fever". This movie clearly has a misogynist side. But turn the attention to John Travolta's dancing partner, Stephanie, played by Karen Lynn Gorney. She is from his neighborhood; you can tell by her dialect. But she expresses through her words and deeds that she is elevating her stature. She has personal boundaries, goals and standards. And even when John Travolta tries to metaphorically barrel down her door, she does not bow down to his compulsions. At the end, she maintains control and is reaching out her hand to help pull HIM up. This is one of my favorite movie endings of all time.
Women in comedies or serio-comedies, such as "The Goodbye Girl" and "Annie Hall" had many of the same traits as the dramas: a little lighter script-wise, and on the cinematography it seemed. But still, women were just as independent with their thoughts and emotions.
Granted, before the 1970's there were plenty of movies that expressed the independence of women. But the culture of the 1970's and its movies, were born out of civil rights acts and the subsequent mass demonstration of demanding these rights. This, in turn, permeated through to our homes, our relationships and our workplaces.
"I'm no fool. I've killed the boss, you think they're not gonna fire me for a thing like that?"
This is my favorite line in the movie. Obviously not that light, huh? But in the context of the movie, it is the central point. Lily Tomlin during a fit of rage over her "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot " boss believes she has just accidentally poisoned him. She was so mad at him, she can't remember if she used sweet-n-low or rat poison. She did put rat poison in his coffee, but he never drank it. Her boss did end up in the hospital because of falling and being knocked unconscious. But through misunderstanding, she believes he is dead. It's a pinnacle moment for Tomlin. She has desperately wanted to either get out from under her boss's control or gain control over situations she's in with him. So much so, she sees red and fantasizes about killing him. Now she thinks she did and is hysterical. She's thinking about her kids, her home, and thinking everything she worked so hard for is now slipping away. And all because of a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" boss.
I think 30 years ago, we thought our world would be so much different in the workplace today. Sure there are many things in "9 to 5" that we no longer do. We don't cover typewriters at night. We don't smoke at our desks. And HR is no longer called Personnel.
But there are many similarities that make this movie still relevant today. The general complaints heard all around the country about the modern day workplace are all here. The office decor is bland, full of non-descript color and florescent lighting. It's taboo to talk about salary. Employees never see or meet the CEO that works in the same building. Supervisors spout off cliches about teamwork but clearly don't have a clue to what that means.
Worst of all, some of the basic attitudes toward women are still there. In "9 to 5" Tomlin was responsible for training the man who becomes her boss. Subsequently she has to stand silently as he makes cutting remarks about women, deny her promotions because the men he promotes "have families" (by the way, she does too) and steal ideas that she researched and proposed. Today conventional wisdom states there are definitive difference between men and women. But in the workplace, there shouldn't be. Yet women are still paid less and hold fewer management positions. Furthermore women have expressed they're thought of as less intelligent if too bubbly, and too assertive if they are stern and ask for raises.
One last similarity is sexual harassment which is rampant in this movie. It may not be as blatant today, but sexual harassment is still a real and serious issue in the workplace. 30 years ago, it may have been more acceptable to say things like, "my girls" and "pretty face", and to threaten to not give promotions if they don't play their cards right. Unfortunately this still occurs in the workplace. It's just these days there is more of an inclination to not express it in "mixed company".
"Here Violet, can you put this on the bulletin board? Thanks Roz, I know just where to stick it."
"9 to 5" might make a great training video for how NOT to mess up the workplace. When the boss is sequestered/kidnapped in his home by Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton, they take it upon themselves to make improvements in the office. Employees are allowed to have personal items on their desks, part-time and job-sharing positions are created, the time clock is eliminated, and a day care center is established. Many of these things exist today in the modern workforce. But the reason they truly promote employee morale in "9 to 5" is because there were established by people who truly cared about the employees and their time. These initiatives were created with sincerity and out of respect. The employees know it's not lip service or some talent management fad. These initiatives were designed to fit their workplace culture.
Revisiting the movie "9 to 5" is probably not going to solve all of the ills of the workplace. But it's an interesting history lesson to see what we've learned since the 1970's and what we still need to work on. Also it's a cheap movie to buy and on Netflix it's free to watch. The cast of characters is interesting. The plot is amusing. And if you're lucky, it'll make you smile, chuckle or bust out laughing.
"9 to 5" is a comedy, a drama, and a documentary with some suspense and adventure thrown in. Even though it was filmed and released in 1980, it's a picture of the 1970's in all its glory and with all its foibles.
Posts
5 Comments:
let's not forget the movie working girl -- a little later (1988), but also a great flick, and this time about the difficult dynamics of woman against woman.
f
You are so right. After over 25 years, if I would have kept a daily journal on the daily sexual harassment, I could have retired rich about 10 years ago instead of waiting another 20 to retire (if I'm lucky enough to stay off the chop block).
Sad, but true. There is so much more work to be done on gender equity. Like the previous commenter, I have shocking personal examples, too. When I started in the professional workforce in the late 1980s, I never would have guessed how slowly the wheels of progress in this area would turn. You hit the nail on the head when you said, "Many of these things exist today in the modern workforce. But the reason they truly promote employee morale in '9 to 5' is because they were established by people who truly cared about the employees and their time. These initiatives were created with sincerity and out of respect. The employees know it's not lip service or some talent management fad." I wonder, if there were a way to measure it, how many people in decision-making authority in corporate America back work-life balance policies -- or for that matter any policies or initiatives that are meant to create a more inclusive workplace -- because of their respect for employees.
@fran True. and maybe the only good performance by Melanie Griffith. I'm thinking I should branch out and do a Movies About Work. Maybe??
@anonymous That's really sad. Start writing now...it's never too late
@distortiongirl Respect for employees to me is a no-brainer. Why it's a problem in so many organizations is baffling. Aren't we all people? Thanks for your comment.
I respectfully disagree with Mr. Smith. Even though sexual harassment is not as visible today as it was 40 years ago in the workplace, sexual interaction, in some fashion, continues just as strong as ever. Men, both young and old, have found more discreet means to communicate with their female co-workers, be it e-mail & text messaging (going the wayside; can be traced), Twitter, Facebook, cell phone, etc. Inter-office communication can be done much easier and more privately today.
More importantly, with the independence of women since 1970, female co-workers & bosses are just as much an active participant as male co-workers & bosses are. Look at the use of office computers to look at porn by BOTH men and now women, or the high level of office affairs between single & married co-workers. (What’s the divorce rate today, 40-50%?)
The independence of women did not reduce the level of sexual harassment of men but enticed the independent business or office woman to now participate almost as much as their male counterpart in a more discreet manner. (If you can’t see this, you are definitely sleeping). I’ve seen it and experienced it in my many years of business (worked in corporate, regional, and field offices) along with interaction with female customers. Hot-blooded males will continue to look at female co-workers, and even female bosses, from a sexual standpoint. Many males will not act on their impulses, but, surprisingly, a large percentage do. But, the good ‘ol women lib movement opened up the opportunity for ladies to pursue their sexual interests outside their home. No company rules are going to stop it. This is reality, not fiction.
Ray
Post a Comment