TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS TO WORK DAY - April 27, 2023

History of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Created in New York City in 1992, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was not always as the name insists. The day was initially just for girls and was called Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The effect of the day was explosive and so it was then expanded in 2003 to include boys. Most companies agreed to accommodate any child, and the day was renamed to ‘‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’’ and now occurs every fourth Thursday in April every year.

Take Our Daughters to Work Day was founded by Marie Wilson, president of the MS Foundation for Women, and her colleagues. The program was initially designed to address self-esteem issues in young females, which is why the guys were excluded. Because the curriculum at the time excluded male involvement, educators chose not to participate, causing friction. 

April 22, 1993 kicked off the first initial day and it’s been celebrated since. Parents, schools, and children in over 3.5 million companies across the U.S, celebrate and plan ahead for the day every year. The day is usually scheduled on a school day and schools are tasked with preparing literature to promote the program.

The word ‘our’ references the nation’s children, the country’s daughters and sons which is relevant as the addition of boys was embraced by all in 2003. For this reason, some companies started calling it ‘‘Take Our Children to Work Day.’’

To provide both girls and boys with career opportunities, regardless of gender, flexibility was recommended and needed to prove the initial point of nurturing and inspiring young children. Males who hosted children claimed to have benefitted from being viewed as parental figures as well as being professionals which helped greatly in combating gender stereotypes.

The holiday is a crucial experience for both the parents and children. The child is in a great position to learn in a fun and relaxed environment. The parents get valuable insight into a child’s interests and can empower them to maximise their potential. Workers who hosted children claimed to have benefited from being perceived as parental figures as well as professionals, which considerably aided in promoting this observance.