Should Your Daughter Join Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts?
The Boy Scouts will soon be welcoming the girls . This is controversial – some see it as a long-term victory for all the girls who fought for their participation for years but were denied , while others see it as a rejection of tradition, an attempt at Hail Mary to sustain decline. membership, or some grand leftist ploy. However, girls who want to join a scouting organization now have a choice.
So what should they choose? Despite common stereotypes about the two groups, it’s not just about tying the knot, not selling cookies. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts share many of the same values and activities, but they differ in some fundamental respects. If you are considering both options for your daughter, here’s what you need to know about the two organizations in order to make a decision:
Values
Here is the law of the Boy Scouts:
The scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, polite, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and respectful.
This is the Girl Scout Act :
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, And respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world real the place is better and be the sister of every girl scout.
FiveThirtyEight conducted a survey to find out which value system is more in line with the values of Americans. The sample size was small, but the results showed that the average percentage of respondents who rated the value of Girl Scouts as somewhat or very important was 90 percent, and for Boy Scouts it was 83 percent. The Boy Scouts’ values of “obedient”, “thrifty” and “reverent” received the lowest marks.
Political leanings
Although Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have similar origins (both have their roots in British General Lord Baden-Powell ), the two organizations change their political views dramatically. Girl Scouts have added social justice to their mission; returned $ 100,000 from a donor who was against the admission of transgender troops; featured prominent LGBT rights activists as role models; and started telling the participants that they could replace “God” with what they believe in by reading the Girl Scout Promise . On the other hand, the Boy Scouts of America did not lift the ban on outright gay scouts until 2013, outright gay leaders until 2015, and transgender boys until early this year. BSA still bans atheists.
The Atlantic article Boy Scouts from Mars, Girl Scouts from Venus summarizes the organizations’ worldviews as follows:
“Boys, if they want to learn how to tie knots and start a fire, will do so in an atmosphere saturated with heterosexual Christianity. Girls will soak up messages about empowerment, diversity and social engagement if they want to sell cookies and go camping.
Events
Both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have programs for children from kindergarten to grade 12. For Girl Scouts, a member’s rating is determined by her age and merit badges, while Boy Scouts are required to meet with a Master Scout to check their progress and to appear before a review committee before advancing to the next level.
Each squad in America is different, and the actions for both groups are largely dependent on the squad leaders, but both focus on outdoor skills, community service, trekking, and camping.
For Girl Scouts, the focus is on:
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). There are projects in the field of computer programming, engineering and civil science.
- On open air
- Life skills. Girl Scouts learn skills such as coping with bullying, launching a letter-writing campaign, and making smart purchasing decisions.
- Entrepreneurship. They acquire business skills by selling cookies.
Boy Scouts participate in “skill tests” such as compass walking, neckerchief bandaging, tent setting, knot tying and belts . Popular activities include pine forest derbies (baby scouts make derby cars and compete), live Jamboree (an amateur radio event that connects scouts from all over the country) and campori (camps in which troops compete. with other groups).
Fundraisers
Girl Scouts have their famous cookies, and Boy Scouts don’t have the funds to raise funds nationally. Many Boy Scout Boards sell popcorn, but some choose to sell poinsettes, car washes, flags, or chocolate bars.
Autonomy for scout leaders
Some parents say that Boy Scout leaders are given much more direction than Girl Scout leaders. One mom who was a Girl Scout leader wrote this on the notice board :
It’s actually a double-sided coin: autonomy is good because I can control how funds are spent and tailor them exactly to my girls’ icons, activities, interests and plans. This can be bad, however, as my squad never had the advantage of being part of a large group (pack), and I was alone to “reinvent the wheel” or develop a badge plan. I was the one to learn about the camping and lead the squad out (as a complete rookie – I just got my training and never started a fire without the supervision of a trainer).
Co-authoring versus an all-girl environment
Despite news that girls will be allowed into Boy Scouts in 2018, some Girl Scout leaders said the decision would not affect their organization.
“That offer Girl Scouts, can not be repeated”, – he told NJ.com CEO ” Girl Scouts” from Northern New Jersey Betty Garger. “Research shows that girls want and thrive in an environment where all girls, girls and women are all girls-friendly environments where their special needs are met, and we will continue to do so.”
And if they don’t, they now have the choice to join the boys.