Friends,
Happy February, and welcome to Unpacking. If you’ve been enjoying this letter, please consider sharing it with a friend.
Carrie here. Today, we want to talk about side hustles.
For those of us who are fans, there is no mistaking the opening sound of the typewriter clack in the feminist anthem and hit pop song, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. Tell me, what could be more relatable than these opening lines?
Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition, and yawn and stretch and try to come to life.
The song grows progressively strong in its description of unfair work environments, while also nodding to the power of collective action.
Again in the “9 to 5” movie, three protagonists, played by Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin, successfully advocate for office reforms like equal pay for equal work, common-sense childcare support and job-sharing opportunities. Parton released the song as part of a studio album that included Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee,” “Sing for the Common Man,” and her own “Working Girl” song. You can check out the song’s music video here (think: amazing late 70s-early 80s fashion).
All of this to say, I was surprised when Dolly released a new song called “5 to 9” as part of a Super Bowl advertisement for this weekend. When I first saw the title track name, I thought it might be a protest song about worker conditions at Amazon warehouses. Instead, it glamorizes the side hustle. The reworked song is an ode to people building personal websites on Squarespace after their “9 to 5” job ends. There’s no mention of policies that support workers and/or dismantle systemic barriers.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a side hustle, and I love a good side project (I mean, hello Unpacking!). But flipping the meaning of “9 to 5” in this way—while there’s a growing gap between the promise of the creator economy and the dearth of worker protections for most people—feels troubling.
Plus, we know that more work doesn’t necessarily = more financial safety. U.S. Census data shows that one in three families who rely on food assistance include two or more workers. More reading on that here. Also relevant: check out Three American Mothers, On the Brink.
Our thoughts on working 5 to 9:
Emily: This song rubbed me the wrong way. I know, it’s a Super Bowl ad, what do I expect?! But to raise the bar from 9 to 5, to 9 to 9 … during a pandemic / recession / time of mental health crisis … no thanks! Bring back the original!
Carrie: Yep, decidedly a bummer. AND YET! I remain excited about the possibilities of the creator economy, and my appreciation for Dolly Parton continues unabated. Highly recommend this podcast: Dolly Parton's America.
Water Cooler Conversation
Carrie: Emily, maybe another time we can discuss placing so much self-value and identity in work. To that end, this recent New Yorker piece by Jill Lepore explores the highs and lows of “meaningful work” with some mind-boggling statistics about what people do to earn a living in the U.S.
Emily: YES! Also for perhaps a funnier perspective on these themes, I assume you’ve already seen Ali Wong’s amazing Netflix special?! Here’s her famous clip on wanting to “lie down” instead of “leaning in.”
Emily: Ok let’s get out of this side-hustle spiral, Carrie. Let’s talk about stuff we do for fun that we DON’T MONETIZE. Here’s my list: learning to embroider by watching lots of YouTube videos, so many cold walks, and reading my Book Club book, “The Joy Luck Club.”
Carrie: Speaking of books, major discovery this week! The Bookstore is producing weekly book recommendation videos with bookstore owner, Matt. If you want a laugh or a moment of calm, these are a must see.
Reader responses from last week’s newsletter on Zoom beauty:
“Did you hear last week's episode of It's Been A Minute with Sam Sanders? (a favorite podcast, if you don't already listen!) Not as thoughtful an analysis as I was hoping for when I excitedly started listening, but it was still a great episode.” - Emma
Thanks, Emma — excited to check it out! Thoughts on side hustles and the myth-making around individualism? Feedback? You can respond directly to this email.
Your newslettering pals,
Carrie & Emily