Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day takes place on Thursday.
Founded in New York City in 1992 by Gloria Steinem as a project of the Ms. Foundation for Women, Take Our Daughters to Work Day was created to help show girls that being smart is something of which to be proud, not something to hide, and that their ideas could be heard and had value.
By providing females with real-life adult role models in various professions, the program shows them that gender is not a prohibitive factor in getting into their desired profession, according to an article for National Woman’s History Museum.
Parade magazine published an article about the initiative and its goals, helping to launch it nationally. And in 1993, the Take Our Daughters to Work Day Foundation was created to grow the program across the country and internationally. Participation grew rapidly; more than 5 million girls in 14 countries participated in 1996.
Take Your Daughters began to include boys in its programs in 2003, and the foundation rebranded itself as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. It’s now celebrated on the fourth Thursday in April.
The Palmyra school district is also celebrating. School Superintendent Florencia Norton sent a letter on April 15 to parents and guardians advising them to report their child’s absence if they take part in the initiative.
“Students will be encouraged to share their work experience with their class upon their return to school,” she said in the letter.
District employees are afforded the opportunity to bring their daughters and/or sons to work on the day.
“We are looking forward to a day of great educational experiences,” Norton added.
