You are here:

9to5: The Story of a Movement

Name: 9to5: The Story of a Movement
Director: Julia Reichert, Steven Bognar
Released: 2020
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

9.1/10

Excellent

2020

Director

Julia Reichert, Steven Bognar

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The documentary excels at challenging traditional power structures by highlighting the empowerment of women and the ethnic diversity of the working class. It effectively links historical labor struggles to current income inequality. While the film offers a nuanced view of immigrant and Black workers, it does not provide specific visibility for LGBTQ+ identities. The narrative primarily focuses on the intersection of gender and class. Overall, the film serves as a sophisticated critique of systemic structures. It replaces a singular view of the American workforce with a complex tapestry of diverse identities fighting for change.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does 9to5: The Story of a Movement have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on gender and labor issues rather than sexual orientation. There is no prominent focus on queer narratives or non-cisgender identities in the historical footage.

How does 9to5: The Story of a Movement portray gender?

Excellent

The narrative revolves around women taking control in professional settings. It documents how female clerical workers moved from subordinate positions to organized leadership roles, breaking down patriarchal structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is 9to5: The Story of a Movement?

Good

The film highlights the contributions of diverse immigrant populations, including Jewish, Italian, and Eastern European communities. It also recognizes the involvement of Black workers in the labor movement.

How does 9to5: The Story of a Movement represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The documentary critiques mid-20th-century capitalism and emphasizes collective action over individual meritocracy. It presents labor rights as a moral imperative against systemic oppression.

Does 9to5: The Story of a Movement include disability representation?

Fair

The film addresses the physical toll of labor and socioeconomic challenges. However, disability is not a central theme or primary narrative driver.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender hierarchies by emphasizing women's empowerment.
Provides a nuanced portrayal of diverse ethnic identities, including Jewish, Italian, and Black workers.
Effectively connects historical labor movements to contemporary economic issues.

Limited or Absent

Could benefit from more explicit focus on LGBTQ+ and queer narratives.
Needs more attention to neurodivergence and specific disability representation.

Official Synopsis

In the early 1970s, a group of secretaries in Boston decided that they had suffered in silence long enough. They started fighting back, creating a movement to force changes in their workplaces. This movement became national, and is a largely forgotten story of U.S. twentieth century history. It encapsulates a unique intersection of the women’s movement with the labor movement. The awareness these secretaries brought to bear on women’s work reverberates even today. Clericals were the low-wage workers of their era. America now confronts the growing reality of deep income inequality. The stories and strategies of these bold, creative women resonates in contemporary America.

How are these scores produced? →