by Christina Conner

Created on: September 27, 2009

Girls are allowed in the Boy Scouts currently as a part of the Venturing program. I worked at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch for a summer. I was a card-carrying Boy Scout for the summer, and I am a woman. And as far as I know, my presence (along with the many other women working there that summer) caused no undue stress or complication for the young men.

The main skills and requirements for the Scouts of all genders and ages (at least from my experience at Philmont) are to be able to come together as a group, work together, support each other, and perform outdoor tasks. These tasks include, but are not limited to hiking, cooking, cleaning up after a

meal, pitching a tent, packing a backpack efficiently, hanging a bear bag, and reading a map. The tasks are challenging for all members, and from my observation and experience, the young women performed just as well as the young men did.

To go to Philmont, you must be 14 or older; this is also the age when young women can join the Boy Scouts of America. So, at that point, there is no formal rule or barrier that prevents young women from joining the Scouts. The only thing stopping them at that age seems to be the ideas of those in charge, the adults who perhaps don't want, or are afraid of, change.

That said, I feel that boys should be able to join the Girl Scouts. Whatever group has the activities and focus that you're most interested in, you should be able to join that group, and not have the decision made for you because of your gender.

The skills that are developed in Scouting are stated in the Scout Law. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Are these not the same qualities we want in our young women and not just our young men?

The Girl Scouts promote many of these same values. I don't feel that the concern should be whether or not girls can join the Boy Scouts, but to move toward allowing young children and young adults to join the groups that most interest them. There are young boys and men who may more enjoy the activities currently connected to the Girl Scouts.

Girls and boys, men and women are biologically different, but difference shouldn't mean exclusion. The stigma of a girl wanting to be a Boy Scout or a boy wanting to be a Girl Scout seem nothing but harmful for the child as the develop into an adult.

Celebrating those of your own gender is important; there is a special bond between women in groups, and I assume it is the same for men. But don't let that celebration keep children in a set and rigid gender role. Allow for freedom of interest and expression. Without change and difference, there is no growth.

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