Washington - Millions of girls, joined here and there by boys, went to work with their parents on Thursday. The event, now known variously as Take Our Daughters to Work Day and Take Our Children to Work Day, began in 1993 as a feminist initiative to expose girls to the world of work.
The UN in New York held one of the biggest events, taking in 750 girls aged between seven and 15 for the third consecutive year and introducing them to women who have climbed high up the professional ladder.
"Some (girls) are down on the stock exchange, others are riding fire engines, others are training to be astronauts and experiencing weightlessness. Many will see a future that none of us had ever imagined," said Ms Marie Wilson, president of the Ms Foundation for Women, which created the event.
The Ms Foundation says women make up 46 per cent of the US work force but hold only 2 per cent of the most powerful positions, defined either by title, pay or responsibility.
"The idea. . . is to encourage young women to pursue their career of choice and break down gender and racial barriers," said a statement by NASA.