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by Andy
Evangelista First
appeared 23 March 1999
Taking Junior to Work
Boy oh boy -- can't figure out if the program has become too politically correct or
incorrect. The campus' "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" - perhaps a victim of
its own success - is catering too much to boys, say some of the organizers, and this runs
counter to the original designs of the program.
Cindy Lux, a manager in the department of surgery, is bowing out this time after helping
in previous years set up programs that let girls get behind the scenes of an operating
room and other workplaces. Lux, who by the way has a son and no daughters, still supports
the idea of having such a program but is a bit peeved that the event has become more of a
"career day" and has been too infiltrated by boys.
Nothing personal against the young fellas, but here's the history lesson: In April of
1993, the Ms. Foundation for Women created Take Our Daughters to Work Day in New York City
to give girls a good glimpse of women in the workplace and perhaps heighten girls'
aspirations. Research had shown that as adolescence begins, girls show a significant drop
in self-esteem. Boys hit a similar adolescent wall, but rebound better in the later teen
years. "Focusing on appearance and how boys view them prevents many girls from
competing with or in front of boys at school - just when girls need to begin planning for
the future," according to Ms. So, it established a girls day out - away from school
and boys - and the idea caught on around the country. Last year, more than 53 million
participated in programs. But the Ms. Foundation states adamantly, "Take Our
Daughters to Work Day is not a career day - and we certainly know that boys need exposure
to the world of work. If you want to have a day in the workplace for boys, we suggest you
organize one on another day."
The concern was that boys will be boys, and Lux, for one, has seen this played out. When
the department of surgery Take Our Daughters program (a big deal with everything from
tours and T-shirts) mixed a few boys with the girls, the boys - although outnumbered a
good 4 to 1 - clearly tried to dominate the discussions and demonstrations.
"They were the first in line to get on the treadmill, check blood pressure, or mix
things in a test tube," she said. Photographs showed the boys sitting at the front
with their hands raised trying to ask or answer questions. One year, when the program
opened with a discussion about women leaders, the boys were clearly seen rolling their
eyes and yawning. It was the kind of stuff that many hoped the girls would be getting away
from - at least for a day. For Lux, the topper was when one of the moms suggested they
redesign the department's T-shirt, because "my son won't wear one that says Take Our
Daughters to Work."
UCSF, which for six years has opened up its laboratories, patient care areas, and offices
for girls on this special day, has had one of the more creative and successful Take Our
Daughters programs in the country. When it started here, it was billed for girls only,
although boys, if they wished to tag along, were not turned away. But organizers started
to sweat from potential legal heat, and gradually opened it up to boys. Although there is
no official UC directive on Take our Daughters to Work, nor has there been a court
challenge, the legal opinion is that it would be legally safer for a public institution to
not have a program that could be subject to charges of gender bias. The UCSF program is so
good, that parents can't resist sending their sons. Last year, some 480 girls - and 85
boys - participated in Take Our Daughters to Work Day, which will be celebrated this year
on Thursday, April 22. There are 32 girls and 7 "just for boys" programs
scheduled that day. In three days after registration forms for this year's event went out,
more than 200 girls and 30 boys were seeking spots in one of the programs, according to
Katherine Riordan, of Public Affairs, who coordinates the event for the campus.
Organizers, led by Riordan, figured if they had to include boys, they would try to
maintain the spirit of the event. They rejected a suggestion to amend the title of the
program to "Take Our Daughters -- and Sons -- to Work." And as long as they have
boys here, they might as well educate them properly. Each boys' program includes a session
conducted by the Oakland Men's Project aimed at helping boys understand the stereotypes
that limit students' choices in the world.
Here's the description of one of the "just for the boys" programs: "Get
inside a real working ambulance. Run the siren, practice with the equipment and see if you
want to be on a rescue team." Is that a guys' thing or what? Maybe they're just
trying to get the boys to whirl as far away from the girls as possible.
Mission Bay
We recently visited the site of the future Mission Bay campus, which is a bit grungy now
but could be the place-to-be in a few years. Yes, it felt about 10 degrees warmer than
Parnassus, and it is a nice stroll from Pac Bell Park. Learn about UCSF's new Mission Bay
campus at a Town Hall meeting, Wednesday, March 31, 12-1:30 p.m., in HSW 302.
Reverse Racing
Just wondering if the new "4 percent" admissions rule approved by the Regents
will create a different type of rush or strategy to get into advantageous high schools.
Will some borderline UC wannabes from competitive Lowell High, for example, start standing
in line to get into some of those SF schools they previously avoided like the
"cooties?"
Expressing Ourselves
Are we really so busy here that we need a couple of express shuttles between Mount Zion
and Parnassus? The "express" gets us there in under 15 minutes, compared to the
regular shuttle - which stops at Laurel Heights and the student residence on Turk Street -
which is an under-20-minute trip. We guess five minutes is huge, but we'd rather have
express elevators.
Busy Signal
Good idea by ABOG to hold a one-day conference, April 29, titled "Beyond Burnout:
Practical Tips and Techniques for Surviving (and Thriving) in Today's Busy World."
But how many people will skip it because they've got too much work sitting on their desks?
Cruel and Unusual
A form of aversion therapy or making sure the punishment fits the crime? An AP story
earlier this month profiled a judge in Fort Lupton, Colorado who requires people convicted
of violating the city's noise ordinance to listen to music they don't like. Most are young
people who blast their stereos way too loud. He holds a once-a-month session on a weekend
night when the cons must listen to court-selected songs, including the theme from Barney
and "lounge hits from hell." That top ten list includes Wayne Newton's
"Danke Schoen," Tony Orlando and Dawn's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Ole
Oak Tree" and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans "Happy Trails to You." The DJs are
police officers, who are ready to crack down on anyone who covers the ears, laughs, talks
or dances. Wow, talk about brutality.
Readers: If you have any items or suggestions for this
column, send us an email: andye@itsa.ucsf.edu. |
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