{"id":1304091,"date":"2019-02-21T15:42:30","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T22:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/?p=1803221"},"modified":"2019-02-21T15:42:30","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T22:42:30","slug":"dolly-parton-reflects-on-9-to-5-in-the-metoo-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/music-news\/dolly-parton-reflects-on-9-to-5-in-the-metoo-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolly Parton Reflects on 9 to 5 in the #MeToo Era"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

by Samantha Stephens<\/a><\/span> 6m ago<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

It was most definitely considered a man\u2019s world when Dolly Parton<\/a> was coming up in the ranks of show business. And while great strides have been made and a revolution for women is underway, there\u2019s still a lot of work to be done, according to the icon.<\/p>\n

But you can always count on Parton to do her part to empower womankind.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first single on RCA Records back in the \u201960s was called \u2019Just Because I\u2019m a Woman,\u2019 and it addressed the issues we are addressing now,\u201d Parton told Sky News<\/em> during a recent on-camera interview.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAll through the years, I\u2019ve written these songs to strengthen and empower women, but also just people in general.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sky News<\/em> piece was for a bit of press to promote the London opening of her Broadway production 9 to 5: The Musical<\/em> at the famed West End theatre district. The musical adheres to the storyline of the classic 1980 film starring Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda as women in the workplace who take action against their boss\u2019 toxic chauvinism and sexism. While a part of the musical\u2019s special message means taking a stand against the offenders, it\u2019s not at the expense of a good man\u2019s dignity.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cIn the new musical, my first line in the new song that took the place of the fantasy scene, is \u2019I love men, don\u2019t get me wrong \/ I\u2019ve always one of my own \/ Many good men I have known but then there\u2019s you,\u2019 meaning Mr. Hart [the bad boss]. And I\u2019ve known a few them. But I\u2019ve known more good men in my life than I have bad ones,\u201d Parton said.<\/p>\n

One truth is undisputed: that 9 to 5<\/em>, whether in the movie or musical format, is an iconic piece of work that stands the test of time and multiple generations. For Parton, the relevancy of the film from nearly 40 years back is proof that there is still work to be done for gender equality in our society.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s gonna always a long way to go,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a work in progress as life itself is, especially for women in the workplace. I really think that\u2019s why we are here now, with the #MeToo Movement. It brought up the subject again with harassment in the workplace and the fact that women are still not getting a chance to do as much they can and paid equally for the work that they do. There are still all those issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parton went on to discuss her own experience in the business as a young woman, and of course, she says there were times she was hit on.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI never did anything to try to get ahead in the business,\u201d she said. \u201cI never slept with anybody unless I wanted to. I\u2019ve never put myself in a position, or I tried to stay out of those positions. And if I found myself in that, I was lucky that I had a great personality and sense of humor that I could joke my way out of a lot of it. And if I couldn\u2019t, I have enough temper and backbone to get out of it some other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, we believe her. And for Parton, the current dialogue and discourse in our country over women\u2019s rights is only moving the issue in the right direction, maybe even to the White House one day. When asked if she ever thought she\u2019d live to see a female president elected, her response was serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there could be. There very well could be,\u201d she said. \u201cBut she needs to be smart. She needs to know what she\u2019s doing. She doesn\u2019t need to be just trying to take it just to prove a point because she\u2019s a woman. She needs to have the goods. She needs to have the knowledge. She needs to have the backbone to be able to run a country. I don\u2019t think we\u2019re ever going to have a woman president if we don\u2019t really feel like she\u2019s capable of saving the country or saving the world for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, she\u2019s just going to go ahead to run\u2026right?<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

Other gems mined from Parton\u2019s conversation with Sky News:<\/p>\n

On watching her music from the audience:<\/strong>
\u201cMy songs are like my kids. It\u2019s kind of like seeing my kids in recital.\u201d<\/p>\n

On dishing advice to other artists:<\/strong>
\u201cI don\u2019t try to tell other people what do. People are always saying, \u2019What kind of advice would you give?\u2019 I say, \u2019I don\u2019t give advice.\u2019 I have some information if you want to know some facts and sometimes how I dealt with something.\u201d<\/p>\n

On artistic image:<\/strong>
\u201cEverybody has a right to be themselves. Everybody has their own path and their own road to walk. And everybody\u2019s talent is different.\u201d<\/p>\n

On bad attitudes in every gender:<\/strong>
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of bad women in this world, too. I\u2019ve worked with a lot of women who were bitches as bitchy as any boss could be. It\u2019s just about the person. It\u2019s about treating each other with respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

On making her late parents proud:<\/strong>
\u201cI think my mom and dad would be very proud of me. I always think they\u2019re looking down and saying, \u2019You go girl. We knew you could do it and we love you.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Embedded from www.youtube.com<\/a>.