Ellen Cassedy

“Of course, it wouldn't have been a 9 to 5 event without a survey, and this one was no exception. Among the questions posed were these: What do you have to say to today's activists and organizers? What do women need to do today to win rights and respect? Here's a sample of what we answered:

Have fun. Be creative.

Approach the problem as systemic, not individual. Collective action and solutions are key.

Remember that the goal is power-building.

Talk to your coworkers, be ready with workable solutions, then collectively bring issues to decision makers. Most importantly, don't accept no for an answer!

Focus on lifting the floor, not just the ceiling.

Decelerate. Do everything in the time it takes, not necessarily at the speed of light.

Take care of each other.

Never give up. Even your losses will help you win in the future.

Remember the heroes who paved the way in the struggles that came before.

Always remember sisterhood and solidarity, especially in the face of sexism, racism, and other forms of hatred.

We are what we are. We all carry the ideas and experiences of those who came before.

We will not have a just and sustainable economy until we eradicate the long-standing inequalities deeply woven into the fibers of our economy, in which some jobs are still undervalued based on the color of our skin or our gender.

Remember there is strength in numbers. Find common ground. Challenge the bosses for a say over your job, your community, your country, your democracy.

Reach out to another woman outside of your comfort zone - she's been waiting for you!

Keep telling the 9 to 5 story.”
― Ellen Cassedy, Working 9 to 5: A Women's Movement, a Labor Union, and the Iconic Movie