When the movie “9 to 5” came out, I was in high school, but already thinking about my hopeful career in life. The song was a sort of anthem to what I believed was my adult future – working 9 to 5. I don’t think I fully understood the lyrics and the fact that the song was really in protest of the underpaid, overworked and often oppressive conditions that many women worked in during that time. Being a secretary or office stenographer or typist was a job critical to most office’s success, but wholly relegated to women and ostensibly not what we would call an ideal work environment then, and absolutely not by today’s standards. When the line said – “Barely getting by, all taking and no giving” – it rhymed and seemed to fit; but it didn’t hit me as a sad statement about working conditions for women. The movie was light-hearted to watch, in spite of the serious undertone, and had some of the best actors and actresses – and one singing great who made the movie both with the theme song and her little-known acting skills too.
Even today, if I hear that song, I can’t help but sing along, tapping my fingers to the beat of the typing as it opens. Hearing that we would feature this movie – adapted for Broadway – in our St. Luke’s on Broadway series, encouraged me to revisit the 40-year-old movie and the song as well. The inspiration for the movie was a real-life organization called Nine to Five, an association of women office workers. The organization exists today and is still working on many of the same issues as 48 years ago – pay disparities, harassment, workplace discrimination, the need for quality childcare and affordable housing and more. It’s hard to believe that despite many improvements, the need to advocate for improvements on these fundamental things still exists. The show, 9 to 5, used humor to deal with real concerns the characters had with the state of their life. Each of them imagined the revenge they would take and how it could change everything if they could get rid of their boss. The solution, however, wasn’t that simple. Just getting rid of one person would have its own set of consequences. They learned that real change came from hard work, support and advocacy on the part of many – just like in real life. Though the organization Nine to Five has no religious affiliation, it has an emphasis on something I believe is deeply rooted in several biblical principles. The first – Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” – they work even still to advocate for equity in the workplace and for benefits that would help working people support their families and care for their children better. The second, and our theme for the year, Mark 12:31 – “love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” They strive to care for hardworking Americans who live paycheck to paycheck – neighbors that need care and love and a voice. The show, in the end, was a lot of fun, even with some revenge in mind, but it was inspired by a much more noble cause.
Perhaps, when the music starts and you begin to nod your head, tap your fingers, and sing along to the 9 to 5 theme, you will also think of the more serious inspiration to this funny show. That of loving your neighbor, caring for their welfare, and advocating for fairness in life and work – the same kind that you would want for your own.
– Lori Hall, Executive Director of Missions
