What a way to make a livin'
In the early 1970s, a group of Boston secretaries banded together to rally for better pay, more advancement opportunities, and an end to sexual harassment. Their unconventional approach attracted the press and shamed their bosses into change.
BY VICKY SIDLER
Economic equality doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a fight that’s been raging for years. Although working conditions have significantly improved for many people, there still remains plenty to achieve.
One thing is for sure, though – thanks to the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the United States, both women and people of colour have gained improved access to the job market. We women weren’t going to settle with just having a job, no. We also began to believe in better career choices in accordance with our skills and talents.
The 9to5 National Association of Working Women appeared as a pivotal organization during the early 1970s, and has been responsible for many of the advances women have seen in the workplace in modern times. This organization has helped women for almost 50 years, particularly those of colour, to attain financial security; and continues to seek improved working conditions and ensure women’s rights in the US.
The 9to5 Movement: The Genesis
Water cooler talk about how women were treated by their bosses and male colleagues had been brewing for quite some time. It wasn’t until 1972 when a group of Boston clerk-typists gathered together to seriously discuss what bothered them about their jobs. In 1973, the US had about 20 million office workers that were women and basically invisible. When people pictured the image of a worker, what sprung to mind was a man with a hard hat and a wrench.
The early 1970s came to represent a notable tipping point for many families in the country as things started to worsen financially for the newer generations. As a result, many civil rights organizations had to establish a whole new set of expectations and dreams, primarily to address the massive difference in wages that existed at the time between male and female workers. For every dollar a male made, a female in the same position would earn 57 cents.
Additionally, the metaphorical glass ceiling was in full effect, as women couldn’t go past a certain point in a company’s hierarchy. Let’s not forget the rampant sexism in the office or how females often had to resort to “favours” to win the approval of their bosses. Another thing that pissed off a lot of women at the time was the way many of them, regardless of age, were referred to as “girls” in the office.
It’s easy to see why the 9to5 movement took off – it was fuelled by this multitude of grievances. The two influential figures at the centre of 9to5’s genesis are Karen Nussbaum and Ellen Cassedy, who founded the Boston-based organization in 1972. Its name, 9to5, comes as a clear reference to working hours. They started by publishing, “9to5: Newsletter for Boston Area Office Workers”, which rallied women to organize themselves for better working conditions across the board.
9to5’s work proved pivotal in building a new organizational model, somewhere between the labour movement and the women’s movement. This singular model allowed stakeholders to harness the power of rising feminism from the era while simultaneously aiding in the struggle for fair workplace conditions.
Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum in the 9to5 office at the YWCA
9to5 Spreads Its Wings: The Evolution
9to5’s history started as women meeting for lunch after responding to the newsletter and discussing their problems. It soon evolved into something bigger. Both Nussbaum and Cassedy quickly realised that a strategy of forming small groups and marching into their bosses’ offices to demand better conditions wasn’t going to work. As such, they adopted an effective three-pronged approach involving medical coverage, pressure from government enforcement agencies, and “whistle-blower” information.
There was a call-out for women to send in nominations for mock “Bad Boss” contests, and the entries came in spades. Women spoke up and made their thoughts heard about all of the petty, degrading, and downright antagonistic demands of their bosses. Here’s where the truly legendary tales from the era started to emerge. There was the one who had to snip her boss’ nose hair and the other that ended up being fired for bringing her boss the wrong sandwich. There was even crazier stuff like the woman who had to sew the crotch area of her boss’ pants while he was still wearing them or the one that got handed a warm container full of urine to take to the lab.
When many of these ‘winners’ emerged on TV, bosses started to change their ways. As Cassedy succinctly put it, “all over the city, managers were shocked. Who had ever heard of office workers speaking up for their rights? It was as if the wallpaper had come alive.” Tactics full of humour and personal experiences worked wonders for the movement.
Even though it started in Boston, 9to5 quickly spread across the country into other cities like New York, Cleveland, San Francisco, Baltimore, Atlanta, and a dozen more. Whether it was women with high school or college education, white or of colour, they all found a home in 9to5 where they felt heard.
9to5 Cleveland holds an action in protest of National City Bank
Conquests of the 9to5 Movement: The Achievements
The results are evident. By the late ’70s, more than 50 women achieved promotions into jobs higher up in the hierarchy, training opportunities, vacation time, and wages expanded reasonably. In time, 9to5 began pushing the state to form regulations against gender discrimination at work, and it wasn’t long until they started to take effect. In 1975, the organization filed a class-action lawsuit against Boston publishing companies after finding out they were paying females much less than males.
Perhaps the most impressive achievement was the entry of the zany ’80s fantasy comedy film, “9 to 5”, featuring renowned figures like Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Dabney Coleman. The movie was a smash hit in theatres and highlighted the harassment, exploitation, abuse, and mistreatment women suffered in the workplace. Fonda and Nussbaum met in the anti-Vietnam War movement, and Nussbaum would always keep Fonda abreast of whatever was happening with female workers.
In 1983, the organization officially adopted its current name, 9to5, National Association of Working Women, and evolved to become the most prominent body of working women in the US. Around this time, 9to5 focused its efforts on creating awareness of automation, pay inequities, medical coverage, discrimination, and sexual harassment. In 1987, they established the Job Retention Project to assist office workers in developing time-management and goal-setting skills.
There has been a lot of meaningful change since the ’70s. Pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment are now illegal. The pay difference between men and women has narrowed considerably, from 57% in 1973 to around 82% nowadays. Additionally, many women find themselves in managerial and union leadership roles.
9-5 stars Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman and Dolly Parton.
Final Words: An Enduring Victory for Women's Rights
There’s no denying that 9to5 brought forward tremendous victories for women in the workplace. Through the power of organization and collective action, women have been able to find their voice, make themselves heard, and develop as a result. Most women no longer have to suffer humiliating and degrading conditions while earning a living. They no longer need to become their “bosses’ wives” to break through the proverbial glass ceiling.
These changes remain valid today, yet at the same time, there’s still much left to do. Cassedy’s and Nussbaum’s groundwork was invaluable. Today’s feminists must understand that the change of status quo in the ’70s and ’80s only came through the duo’s collective resolve. In 2022, it’s clear as day that the struggle continues, as evidenced by the difficult choice a woman has to make regarding starting a family or chasing after a career. The fight isn’t over, not by a long shot. DEFY
Vicky Sidler
Vicky Sidler is a South African journalist, editor and content marketing writer. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Yahoo Finance.