As an organization dedicated to improving the status of women and girls, we were surprised and saddened by the Ms. Foundation’s decision to change the focus of its Take Our Daughters To Work Day (“Next year, sons can officially join the daughters’ day in the sun,” Woman News, April 24).
We believe this event, as originally fashioned, served an important purpose because it illuminated the myriad opportunities and obstacles facing working women.
Despite progress, the reality is that women continue to face unique barriers in the work arena.
We are under-represented in the upper reaches of government and commerce.
We are over-represented in low-paying, low-skilled jobs.
Other factors such as sexual harassment continue to negatively impact the work experience for many of us.
Until a level playing field is achieved, events such as Take Our Daughters to Work Day and organizations that focus on issues specific to women continue to be relevant.
Likewise, other single-issue organizations serve their constituents well by adhering to a carefully defined mission.
We trust that the Ms. Foundation had solid reasons for changing its signature event. But we believe that the key to creating positive change is to maintain a distinct focus on the challenges that prevent women and girls from achieving equal status with their male counterparts.
