HAPPY, HEALTHY FAMILY
By Kimberly Blaker
April 23, 2015
Take Our Daughters to Work Day Empowering Girls for a Bright Future
D
espite significant strides in recent years, women today earn twentyfive percent less than men and continue to be underrepresented in the boardroom, top executive positions, and the fast growing fields of technology, reveals Ms. Foundation for Women. Studies have found that part of the reason this inequality persists is that when girls reach early adolescence their self-esteem drops significantly. During this stage, they become more focused on their appearance and how boys will perceive them, which often reduces their willingness to compete with or in front of boys. Therefore, girls fail to develop the know-how and the confidence necessary for competing later in the job market. Another reason women are underrepresented and earn less is that in spite of
changes in recent generations girls are still subject to stereotypes concerning marriage, raising children, and certain occupations. Such stereotypes steer girls, often unintentionally, into traditional paths and roles regardless of their interests and abilities. For these reasons, Take Our Daughters to Work® Day was created in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation, to help girls realize the importance of their abilities and to reach their full potential. In 2003, the day was expanded to include boys and the official name changed to “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” For many experts, the need is still greater for our girls to see the choices available to them and to discover the possibilities of having a balanced career and family life This year’s event is April 23, 2015. Here are a few suggestions on how you can
participate and empower your daughter for a bright and fulfilling future. A day with our daughters On Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, avoid observation alone, and have some work and tasks set aside to keep your daughter busy and learning throughout the day. At-the-office activities • Have your daughter keep a journal throughout the day, describing different aspects of the occupation that she likes and dislikes and why. •
Give her a simple project to complete–perhaps one that includes online research– and then take the time to go through the work with her and show
The “Happy, Healthy Family” column is spondored each month by Monarch Therapy.
For more information on Monarch Therapy, call (239) 325-9210 or check www.MonarchTherapy.com 10
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NEAPOLITANfamily • April 2015