9to5 facts for kids
9to5, National Association of Working Women is an American organization that was started in 1973. Its goal is to improve the working lives of women and their families. In the past, women were often paid less than men and did not have the same chances to get better jobs. The 9to5 organization worked to fix these problems and make workplaces fairer for everyone.
The group, which became known as the 9to5 movement, helped women across the country. Their story even inspired a famous movie and a documentary. While it was part of a larger push for women's rights, known as the feminist movement, some members preferred not to use the label "feminist." The movement was also important for bringing attention to the challenges faced by women of color in the workplace.
Contents
History of the 9to5 Movement
The group began in 1972 with a newsletter in Boston for office workers. A year later, this led to the creation of Boston 9to5. This group was formed by women office workers to fight for better pay, chances for promotion, and more respect at work. They also wanted to stop inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
Even though laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been passed to prevent unfair treatment based on gender, many women still felt they were not treated as equals.
Many women who joined 9to5 had experienced this unfairness themselves. For example, an insurance secretary named Fran Cicchetti was promised training for a new role. But when the time came, her boss gave the promotion to a man instead. This experience inspired Fran to become an activist. She joined with other women facing similar issues to create an "organization for women office workers," which grew into the 9to5 movement.
The organization grew quickly and opened offices in cities like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia. It also had a presence in states like Colorado and California. At its peak, the organization had around 12,000 members.
Key Goals and Victories
Members of the 9to5 movement met to decide on their goals. They wanted to make big changes in how women were treated at work.
The Bill of Rights for Women Office Workers
The group worked together to write a "Bill of Rights for Women Office Workers." In April 1974, hundreds of women gathered in Boston for a special hearing. They presented their ideas for new rules that would protect them.
Their efforts were successful. The new rules required companies to provide clear, written job descriptions and regular salary reviews. They also demanded that women be treated with respect in the office and receive the same benefits as men. This victory encouraged them to keep fighting for equal pay.
One of the group's first big wins was a class-action suit against several publishing companies in Boston. The companies had to pay female workers $1.5 million to make up for unfair pay in the past. In 1975, 9to5 partnered with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to form Local 925, a union that helped office workers negotiate for better conditions.
"Raises Not Roses"
The 9to5 movement also challenged ideas like National Secretaries Day. On this day, bosses would often give their female secretaries roses or take them to lunch. While bosses thought this was a nice way to show appreciation, many secretaries felt it was not enough. They wanted fair treatment and better pay every day, not just a one-day celebration.
To make their point, members of 9to5 came up with the slogan "raises not roses." This was a clever way to say that they wanted real improvements in their jobs, not just small gifts.
Important People and Growth
In 1977, Boston 9to5 joined with a similar group from Cleveland to create a national organization. It was led by Karen Nussbaum, one of the original founders from Boston. She started the movement with her friend Ellen Cassedy, whom she met when they were both working as secretaries at Harvard University.
Cassedy was in charge of recruiting new members and organizing events. She believed that 9to5 was important because it challenged the idea that office work done by women wasn't "real" or important work.
Another key figure was Debbie Schneider. She first joined the movement in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she helped organize university office workers.
The group's work caught the attention of actress Jane Fonda. After meeting with members of 9to5, she was inspired to help create the hit comedy movie, 9 to 5. The film, starring Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin, showed the experiences of female office workers and brought the movement's ideas to a huge audience.
.jpg)
In 2021, filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar released a documentary called 9to5: The Story of a Movement. It tells the story of the organization through interviews with the women who were part of it.
Fighting Unfair Treatment
A major focus for the 9to5 movement was stopping inappropriate behavior at work. This was a common problem for women, where people in power would act in ways that were disrespectful or made others feel uncomfortable.
This behavior was often divided into two types. The first is when someone's actions create a "hostile work environment," making it difficult for a person to do their job. The second is when a boss or supervisor demands special favors from an employee in exchange for a promotion or other job benefits.
The movement worked to show that this behavior was about power, not just personal relationships. By raising awareness, 9to5 helped make workplaces safer and more professional for everyone.
Challenges and Inclusivity
The 9to5 movement was part of the larger second-wave feminist movement of the 1970s. However, not all members called themselves "feminists." Some women felt the term didn't fully represent their goals, which were focused on practical issues like equal pay and job opportunities.
.jpg)
Some Black women also chose not to use the label. They felt they had been fighting for equal rights their whole lives due to racial injustice, and they didn't need a new term to describe their fight.
Even though the group was focused on fighting racial injustice, at first it was made up of mostly white, middle-class women. As the movement grew, it worked harder to include women of color. For example, 9to5 began pairing Black and white organizers to lead local chapters. In the 1980s, the group uncovered that Black women in Cleveland, Ohio, were stuck in the lowest-paying office jobs. By highlighting this issue, 9to5 helped build more diverse organizations and gained national attention for its work on racial equality.
Lasting Impact
In 1981, 9to5 and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) created SEIU District 925, a national union for office workers. The organization officially became "9to5, National Association of Working Women" in 1983.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, 9to5 continued to work on important issues. They campaigned for pay equality, family and medical leave, and an end to all forms of harassment and discrimination at work. They were also one of the first groups to warn about the health risks of working long hours on early computers.
Today, 9to5 continues to fight for policies like paid sick leave and equal pay. The organization also runs a Job Survival Helpline to support women facing problems at work. While the fight for complete equality in the workplace is not over, the 9to5 movement made huge changes that improved working conditions for millions of women across the United States.
See also
