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Trekking down a paved path: Education for Women
Do you have women in your family who have gone to college? What about any doctors, lawyers or other ceiling busting women? If so, you have Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink to thank.
Fifty-one years ago, Rep. Mink authored a bill and got Congress to pass this landmark piece of legislation. The Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in educational institutions and programs that receive federal funding.
This legislation was groundbreaking for a number of reasons. For the first time women were entitled to an equal education on every level. No more could colleges turn away women from entering particular programs of study!
It also paved the way for sex equity in school sports and other school sponsored extracurricular activities.
Ultimately, The bill was renamed the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in 2002 to honor her contributions to civil rights, and economic and social justice.
An interview with Rep. Mink in 2002 shared her personal motivations for authoring the bill.
“I have a very personal connection with Title IX because while I was wanting to go to medical school and I had written to a dozen or more medical schools to seek entry, each one of them turned me down by saying that they did not admit women to their schools. It came to me as quite a shock that in America it was not a person’s grade, aptitude, tests, recommendations that got the person into the careers of their choice, but that it had to do with one’s gender.”
Luckily, we have come far from those ceiling-inhibiting days. What is something you’re grateful you were able to accomplish as a woman in your lifetime that your mother could not?
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What better history to research during December than the frankincense and myrrh meaning and guests of the Nativity?
We Three Kings- we all know the song and to some extent we all think we know the story- Jesus is asleep in the manger and the three kings follow the star of Bethlehem to visit and bring gifts to the newborn king. But from there the story gets fuzzy. Who were these three kings and why did they bring these particular gifts? What even is Myrrh, let alone what was the myrrh meaning?
My son is a huge questioner and asked me this Christmas season. Going online I found the answers hard to find. But my sister, an acupuncturist in California, surprisingly had an interesting explanation. Here’s herproposal in explaining the origins of the Three Kings Names and Gifts.
Meet the Men: 3 Kings Names and Gifts
For starters, the names of the three Kings are believed to be Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. But, this is a guess because there is very little known about the actual kings. They are only mentioned in the Bible as wise men who traveled from the East. However, we’re not even completely sure how many kings there were. Theological scholars have determined over the years that there were three. Some believe this was because of a symbolic significance- (to demonstrate the three ages of men) others came to this determination because of the fact there were only three gifts mentioned.
The gifts mentioned were gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gold feels pretty self-explanatory- since Joseph and Mary were literally holed up in a barn, gold would probably come in handy. But what were these other gifts?
The general explanation offered is they were very expensive, fragrant smelling oils and the gifts were meant to bestow a great honor. This was the explanation I remember being offered in my own Catholic school days. This was also the explanation my son received which left him asking these questions. His exact words, I believe, were, “Why would these “wise” men bring gifts that had no purpose except to smell good? Why would Jesus have needed that?” Touche.
The other explanation I’ve found feels almost “woo-woo” to me. Myrrh was an oil used for burying the dead and the wise men were so “wise” that they were foretelling the future and Jesus’s future crucifixion. Hm, not sure how I feel about “fortune-telling” in the Nativity story.
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Here’s where my sister enters with what honestly feels like such a common-sense explanation. According to Chinese medicine, myrrh and frankincense were often used in combination. Their purpose? To promote healing, in particular, to reduce swelling, alleviate pain and heal bleeding, etc. I.e., it was a common herb used after childbirth.
So, this would mean that these wise men were indeed “wise” in bringing extremely valuable and useful gifts for the new mother, not the new baby. Seriously, what better gifts could there be than helping poor traumatized Mary heal from giving birth in a barn?
I know I felt like I’d stumbled upon an “aha” moment upon hearing this myrrh meaning and more and I hope it brings you some joy and clarity this holiday season as well. Thank you to my fabulous sister- Keri Peters for her resources and insight for this article. Please feel free to reach out to her at HERE for any other herbal or acupuncture questions in the future.
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The Real Mystery: Who REALLY wrote Nancy Drew?
Who was Carolyn Keene?
We all know Nancy Drew—she’s smart, she drives a cool car, and she’s the ultimate inspiration for independent women everywhere. However, there’s a secret behind the Nancy Drew series. The woman who truly made Nancy the icon we love today was operating in plain sight for fifty years, completely uncredited.
Forget the official name, Carolyn Keene. The actual literary powerhouse who secured Nancy’s legacy was Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Her story is pure Changemaker gold, proving that the most influential figures often work behind the curtain!
The Unexpected Heir
Harriet didn’t plan on becoming a publishing legend. She was a teacher and musician, but life had other plans. Her father, Edward Stratemeyer, ran the massive Stratemeyer Syndicate, a company famous for creating popular series like The Hardy Boys and, yes, Nancy Drew. The Syndicate’s unique model involved hiring ghostwriters to produce books from detailed outlines, all published under those famous pseudonyms.
The crisis hit hard in 1930 when Edward died unexpectedly, right after the first few Nancy Drew books were released. Everyone thought the Syndicate—and the teenage sleuth—was toast.
But Harriet, along with her sister Edna, stepped up. While Edna handled the books, Harriet took on the far bigger task: becoming the chief creative mind and author of their most valuable characters.
Nancy Gets a Makeover (and a New Attitude)
For the next five decades, Harriet wasn’t just managing. She was writing. Harriet penned or heavily edited nearly 200 of the Syndicate’s titles, defining the definitive voice of “Carolyn Keene.”
Harriet Adams fundamentally changed Nancy Drew for the better:
She Made Her Relatable: Harriet took the initial 1920s thrill-seeker and transformed her into the poised, responsible, and clever detective we cherish. Nancy always had her own money, her own friends, and, crucially, she drove her own car—a huge statement of independence!
Nancy Became Timeless: As the decades marched on, Harriet understood that books had to evolve. She orchestrated a massive project to “revise” the older novels. This included updating the language to ensure Nancy’s style felt modern, also removing outdated references and stereotypes. She kept Nancy relevant generation after generation.
The Power of the Hidden Hand
Harriet Adams’s story is incredible because she was one of the most commercially successful and prolific authors in history. And yet, she chose to remain in the shadows. For fifty years, she was the engine that kept the most popular girls’ series in the world running, without a single public nod of recognition.
Her journey teaches us an invaluable lesson: Changemaking isn’t always about being on the cover of a magazine. True impact comes from a fierce, unyielding commitment to nurturing and improving a vision. Harriet Adams proved that being the quiet, consistent force behind the success can be the greatest achievement of all, turning a fictional character into a timeless, global inspiration.
Enjoy reading about incredible Changemakers? Here are a few more you should get to know:
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The History of Unions in America
Unions– love them, hate them– they’re an integral part of our labor history in America. And they’ve been in the news a lot recently. Between the fights with teacher unions and return to school plans last year to now Starbucks and Amazon locations voting to unionize– there are a lot of big feelings on this topic. But why is it so controversial?
Some Background History of Unions in America
The early forms of unions were craft guilds or mutual aid organizations working to protect workplace entry and conditions for skilled artisans. It didn’t raise too much resistance because these artisans were small in number as were the organizations who hired them. It wasn’t until industrialization that more of a gap between the workforce and employers came to be. Soon, workers began to see a threat emerging against both their wage and status.
The mid to late 1800s became a violent time in labor history. Unions utilized general strikes and rallied for standards like an eight-hour work day and livable wages. However, big businesses were heavily involved in government and local law enforcement as well as cohesive in supporting their own common interests. It was also socially accepted for employers to use brutal violence against striking workers. Therefore they succeeded in limiting the growth of trade unions and quashing most of their efforts at the time.
The turn of the century brought a new approach to union efforts. The American Federation of Labor was founded with the belief that individual unions were too fragmented to withstand the violence orchestrated against them. Instead, they recruited unions to band together under one large organization. Under AFL support, they were able to withstand the onslaught of retaliation from employers with unemployment pay and benefits.
The National Civic Federation (NFL) went one step further and brought leaders from both the trade unions and corporations together. Their explicit goal was diplomacy and with them the premise of collective bargaining was born.
Where the Controversy Comes In
On paper, unions appear to be entirely altruistic and no-brainers. However, as with everything in life– nothing is that simple. With larger organizations there are compromises in the name of the greater good at the expense of the individual. There are also politics that come into play.
Over the years, workers have rebelled against the idea of wages being garnished to support the union for what they felt was little return for their own individual benefits. Right to work laws came into play to support worker’s individual choice to opt out of union protection.
Some feel this has hampered unions and limited their protections and is why we have seen a downfall in their involvement and popularity in the last thirty years. We are a capitalist society that is run by the bottom-line. Both in our own households and in keeping a business running. But there are always two sides to every story.
When you’re arguing against an employer’s whim to fire or downsize without merit– you are also going to get an underperforming worker who is difficult to fire. You’re also going to get employers needing to make the difficult decision to raise prices for consumers to pay for a livable wage for their employee.
But on the other side, is it fair for a worker to be forced to choose between their safety, health or newborn infant and their paycheck? Or for an employer to mislabel a worker as an independent contractor to avoid paying benefits and taxes?
Just as the girls in the Triangle were fighting against the injustice railed against them– there are still many employees in this country with the deck stacked against them. Whatever the answer is– unionizing, legislation, or consumer support against corporations– we must be aware. The job is not done. Support is still needed– the fight for Worker’s Rights is far from over.
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Why was this day created and how has it evolved over time?
Take Your Daughter to Work day began in 1992 by Gloria Steinem as a project of the Ms. Foundation. It was created to show girls that being smart was something to be proud of and not something to hide. By providing girls with real-life models in the workplace, the hope was to offer something for girls to strive to achieve themselves. Gender did not have to hold them back from a desired profession.
Parade Magazine wrote about the program and by 1993 the Take Your Daughter to Work Day Foundation was formed to help expand the program nationally and internationally.
From Female Empowerment to Breaking Gender Stereotypes
In 2003, the Take Your Daughter to Work Day program expanded to include boys. Many criticized this, wasn’t the point to increase female empowerment? But the Foundation argued the expansion would only make the program stronger. It would allow for the dissolution of gender stereotypes completely. For instance, shouldn’t a boy be told he’s allowed to be a nurse?
Since then the program has continued to evolve. It’s now an April tradition, with worldwide participation. It purposefully takes place during the school year so educators can incorporate it into their lessons, drawing from real world experiences. There have even been purposeful strides in reaching out to low-income communities to find ways for children there to participate as well.
But are we really empowering our daughters?
All of this is fantastic. And I am grateful for these opportunities and lessons for our next generation of workers. However, I feel it’s important to examine the original intent behind the day and how it has changed over time. I love the idea of breaking gender stereotypes and teaching children they can follow any career path that interests them.
But, I feel the focus needs to change on where we empower our children. If I’m honest, I’m less concerned about my daughter, or my son, for that matter, excelling in the workplace. I know plenty of strong, empowered “girl-boss” friends. They speak up for themselves and are rocking the workplace. However, where I do still see an imbalance is on the home front where they’re desperate to find that elusive work-life balance.
If we examine current society and are honest with ourselves, it’s women who still shoulder the bulk of the burden when it comes to childcare and home management in addition to their jobs. Women are still the default parent who gets the phone call from school. They are usually the one who needs to stay home with a sick child. They carry the bulk of the emotional labor, scheduling dentist appointments, filling out school forms, replacing outgrown clothing, chauffeuring, etc.
Men have stepped up on the home front since women started working. I want to be clear, I see that. My husband does A LOT as do many of my friends’ husbands. However, it’s still a far cry from equal. And much of that is because of societal expectations. Schools still call the mother first when a child is sick. I have friends who have listed their husbands as first to call because their jobs are more flexible, and yet the school still calls them first.
Workplaces are also generally more accommodating for a mother to take off when a child is sick rather than a father. Some men I know even mention unspoken “stigmas” that stop them from asking for time off for parenting responsibilities. This goes back to the continuing need to fight for “paternity leave” when having a new baby. How can men ever equally carry the burden of parenting if their workplaces will not even allow them time at home when their baby is born?
And then there are the traditional gender stereotypes and expectations we allow ourselves to fall into. I teach college and my class recently had an interesting discussion about this topic. We read the article The Men We Carry in our Minds by Scott Russell Sanders. The basic gist of the article is a young male student gets into a debate with a college classmate about who has it harder- Men or Women. Our class discussion about the piece led us in many different directions, but at one point I asked them to raise their hands if a statement was true. Out of a class of 27 Gen Z students, only one had ever had a father take him on a field trip. And none thought their father would have known the name of their pediatrician.
Take Your Daughter to Work Starts at Home
We can most definitely tell our girls they can aim for any career path they want. But they are still seeing their mothers carry an unsustainable workload each day and battling burnout. What is the answer to that? It’s complicated, I know. But until that balance is shifted, our girls will unfortunately always hit a ceiling.
We have come a long way from the imbalance of parenthood from the past. Again, I applaud that men have made major strides in the division of responsibilities at home and child rearing. But we, as a society, can still do better.So, parents, instead of just taking your child to work. Consider what you model for them each day. Are you demonstrating an imbalanced division of labor in the home? Are you making sure one parent isn’t burning out from an overloaded plate? The daily application they witness are the lessons your children will carry. Empower your daughters to speak up, negotiate in all areas of their lives and thrive.
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Why do we still need to discuss the importance of workplace safety? Let’s examine how it’s still an issue today!
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Another March 25th is here and I’m still remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Every year I reflect on this day and think of the brave women, men and children who were not only victims on that fateful day, but were also there to lead the charge on the picket line to demand reform for workplace safety in the Garment Worker’s Uprising of 1909. But have we yet learned our lesson? Is workplace safety really no longer an issue? Let’s examine where we are in society today and why we still need to discuss the importance of worker safety.
Current workplace safety statistics
I’d love to say US workplaces are safer today than they were the time of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Yes, there are more safety protocols and inspections, but workplace safety is still a very valid concern.The U.S. ranks in the top 30 of countries with the most fatal workplace incidents each year. This is higher than most developed countries.
In general, U.S. fatal workplace injuries are steadily increasing and are at their highest in years. In 2023, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded. This equates to a 3.5% fatal occupational injury rate for every 100,000 workers!
To illustrate- that is the equivalent of one worker dying every 99 minutes!
OSHA reports an average of 200 workplace fires per day, with more than 5,000 people injured by workplace fires a year. The current death toll due to fires and explosions in the workplace is an average of 200 deaths per year. And that is not necessarily in professions expected to be working with those elements.Then there are also accidents, falls, slips, violent acts, etc. These statistics come largely from incidents on construction sites, transportation workers, factories etc., and most are entirely preventable.
Child labor violations are also on the rise!
Since 2018 the US has seen a 69% increase in illegal child labor. In 2015, the lowest point in data, the Wage and Hour Division found 1,012 minors employed in violation of child labor laws in the U.S. In 2024, that number has almost quadrupled to 4,030! In addition to the numbers, the concern is investigators are finding a rising number of children working in dangerous jobs like meatpacking plants, loading docks and metal shops.
Workers’ Financial Concerns
A significant number of workers are also struggling to make ends meet, with many unable to afford basic living expenses. Concerns are high regarding increasing costs and salaries failing to keep up with inflation. There are also major concerns about job security with many employees fearful of rising layoffs. Workers’ mental health is deteriorating with nearly half (47%) identifying work stress as their primary trigger.
What should we do with this information?
We start by identifying and talking about it. One of the biggest issues is a lack of knowledge. We think it’s 2025, that can’t possibly still be happening. And yet, it most definitely is.
We then must examine solutions. Labor Unions were steadily declining in past decades, but since Covid that’s changed. They are now at the highest in favorability ratings since the 1950s with 70% of Americans currently approving of labor unions. As of 2024, one in six Americans live in a union household. When asked why members are joining, the top answers are better pay and benefits and employee rights and safety.
Things We ALL Can Do to Help
Buy from Unionized Shops– Unionized Stores and Union-made products means workers have more power over their pay, safety and other important issues. While no union is perfect, supporting unions provides workers with a better way to balance power for their protection and rights. If you are curious about whether a store or chain is unionized, a simple Google search can most likely help you find out.
Support Union Efforts– When unions go on strike, listen to them and support them with your wallet. Whether it’s local or a national company, avoid crossing a picket line when you can. That means going into a place that has striking workers and spending your money there. This sends a message that you disagree with the workers’ demands.
Share Information– When you hear about a worker strike or a petition to improve conditions, share that information with others. Use social media to share posts or bring it up in conversation. Many people do not know about these issues and sharing this information will help support workers. You can find out about ongoing strikes and protests HERE. You might think they’re not happening, but there are 46 labor actions listed so far in 2025 alone.
Recognize Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28th. This is an annual international day of remembrance for workers who have been killed or injured on the job.There are many organizations who host memorials and ceremonies. This is also a great time to participate in social media campaigns. You can also participate in the National Security Council’s Safe at Work pledge which sheds a light on both preventable accidents and the increase in homicides and suicides in the workplace.
Workplace Future
As we discuss the future, these issues of worker’s rights, well-being and safety need to come to the forefront.We need to educate others about these worker concerns and channel those brave garment workers to stand up for change today!
Continue to learn about history with these posts:
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