by Eileen Schmidt

Created on: September 28, 2009

Should girls be allowed to join the Boy Scouts? Simply put, the answer would be NO. I am not saying this because I am gender racist, but because it is called BOY Scouts for a reason. Boy Scouts are a group for young boys to go and learn how to become men. They learn about team work, making friends, they are around positive male role models, and learn about stuff such as camping and hiking and how to survive.

Girls need to learn this stuff as well, and that is why there is a program called GIRL Scouts. I am sure that most parents would not want to enroll their sons in Girl Scouts as that would be silly. As a mother of a Brownie (the second level of Girl Scouts) I am quite happy that it is not co-ed. Much like that of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts allow my daughter to bond with other girls her age and it keeps her out of trouble. She has positive female role models outside of our home and has made a group of great friends.

Girl Scouts are not about baking cookies and cleaning, they learn much of what the boys do. They have camping trips, learn how to tie knots, do arts and crafts, they get to enjoy the experience of volunteer work and helping those less fortunate. They learn about the bonds of friendship. Keeping the two separated helps to keep our kids on the right track and helps to keep them involved in the community.

Boys and girls need that time to bond with other kids of like gender. Although doing much of the same things in each program, keeping them separate gives the children a sense of self, a sense of individuality. Girls get to learn survival tips without feeling like they have to compete. They need that. It is in no way intended to be sexist or prejudice in any form or fashion, it is intended to empower both genders.

In a nutshell, if this were allowed, then there would no longer be the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, they would be the Boys and Girls what? The Boys and Girls Club! Which already exists for those who wish to enroll their children in a really fun and cool co-ed setting. These options keep it open for parents and children to decide on which route they would like to take.

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