Dolly Parton’s Influence: Women’s Workplace Excellence, Mental Health, and Empathy
Photo credit: USA Today
By Lindsay Bissett
Trigger warning: Discussion of thoughts of suicide
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” - Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s journey began in rural Tennessee where she was raised in a large family and lived her entire young life in poverty. Her journey from humble beginnings to immense success is iconic and inspiring for anyone at any time.
Workplace Excellence: Dolly’s Trailblazing Career
“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
Dolly faced (and still faces even in her 70s) gender biases and stereotypes, yet her determination and undeniable talent paved the way for her success. When addressing gender stereotypes Dolly often leans in with humor, taking back her power. She’s been quoted as saying, “I look totally artificial, but I am totally real, as a writer, as a professional, as a human being. A rhinestone shines just as good as a diamond.”
When addressing an age-old trope of being a “dumb blonde” Dolly again swept in with one of her iconic, lighthearted yet firm responses by saying, “I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb - and I'm not blonde either!”
Overcoming societal expectations, not letting critics or biases limit her, Dolly not only became a trailblazing figure in country music but also challenged the status quo for female artists during a time when gender disparities were even more pronounced in the entertainment industry.
Today Dolly is one of the most honored female country performers of all time. It would be a very long blog if we listed all her accomplishments, but here are a few that demonstrate just how prolific Dolly Parton has achieved:
42 career top-10 country albums, a record for any artist
110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years
All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, collaboration records, compilation usage, and paid digital downloads during her career have reportedly topped 100 million records around the world
Dolly is one of only seven female artists to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year
Let’s reflect on that last point. The fact that only SEVEN female artists throughout history have won the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year (first awarded in 1967) is a reminder of how far the entertainment industry, and society, still has to come in terms of gender equity, and just how important it is to continue uplifting women in male dominated industries.
So WWDD (what would Dolly do)?
Dolly’s 9-5 tip would likely be encouraging women to be their true selves. It’s Dolly’s superpower of living and looking exactly how she wants, while leaning into her talent, that became her differentiator. Dolly would want us all to be our undiluted selves, and yes this means at work too!
Mental Health: Dolly’s Honest Reflections
“If you don’t like the road you’re walking start paving another one.”
In true Dolly fashion of being authentic and unfiltered, she has been open about her mental health challenges over the years. Dolly is quoted as saying she has to be "wary" of depression, which runs in her family.
“It’s usually brought on by something that’s going on in the family and if there are problems sometimes it’s a lot for one little person to carry.”
“People are always saying to me I’m happy all the time. But nobody is happy all the time. I am a tender-hearted person and I feel everything to the ninth degree. Every once in a while, I just feel you know... sad-hearted and melancholy."
Dolly believes her experience with depression has made her stronger.
“After that I was twice the person I ever was. It was good for me. I saw how people could get depressed enough to kill yourself."
When someone as high profile and successful as Dolly Parton opens up about mental health, it creates a safe place for others to do the same. No one is isolated in their feelings and experiences. We are never alone. Sharing mental health experiences, even including suicidal thoughts, breaks down the stigma that having those experiences makes you weak, especially from someone as high profile as Dolly, who exudes strength.
So WWDD?
Dolly’s 9-5 tip would likely be to share your story with someone you trust. Sharing is caring after all! This may mean sharing challenges at work, as much as sharing victories. Life is made up of dark and light, there are things we love doing and things we don’t in the workplace, and it’s more than ok to be honest about those things. When we start sharing, we create a safe space for others to do the same.
Empathy in Action: Dolly’s Philanthropy
"I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world."
Dolly Parton has prioritized giving back for the majority of her career, investing in initiatives including childhood literacy, uplifting Black communities, providing scholarships, and medical advancement initiatives through The Dollywood Foundation. What people find so endearing about Dolly’s generosity is that she does not do it for attention, or to build up her reputation, she gives back simply because she cares. Empathy in action.
Dolly’s Imagination Library initiative sends a free book every month to children under five whose parents request them. Currently, the Imagination Library sends out approximately 2 million free books each month.
She is quoted as saying, “This actually started because my father could not read and write and I saw how crippling that could be,” she said. “My dad was a very smart man. And I often wondered what he could have done had he been able to read and write. So that is the inspiration.”
So WWDD?
Dolly’s 9-5 tip would likely be exactly what she is quoted as saying: give from the heart. Giving back isn’t always about big charitable donations, we can give back in many ways. One exceptional way to give back is being a mentor and/or sponsor for another developing individual. Give them your motivation, learning, access to networks, and open doors for their future.
Dolly Parton’s journey illustrates a compelling link between workplace excellence, mental health awareness, and the power of empathy. By embracing her authenticity, resilience, and compassionate spirit, we can draw inspiration for creating a workplace culture that values and supports wellbeing, psychological safety, and the confidence to know that when people can be their true selves, they can also shine like a rhinestone, and thrive to their fullest potential.
About Lindsay Bissett:
By day Lindsay is a Human Resources Consultant, with a flair for social media and mental health advocacy. By night she is a mother of two, green smoothie aficionado, podcast listener, and active glamper.
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