Progress is made in baby steps. While gender inequality is still a big issue with women not receiving equal opportunities in education, the workplace, and daily life, at least there is more equality for America’s children through the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) now letting girls become official members.
Some may think that this is just a way for the Boy Scouts to encroach on the Girl Scouts’ territory or to increase membership, but nevertheless, their move will benefit girls and help create a more equal world for them.
Our nation will benefit from girls learning new skills and leadership and being offered more opportunities, and boys being exposed to the different perspectives girls bring. What would it take to make you care about these benefits?
Although there are some who are surprised by BSA’s action, the Boy Scouts of America inviting g
...irls to officially join is not unprecedented. In the article, “Why the Boy Scouts are for girls now, too”, Mark Surbaugh, the Chief Scout Executive for Boy Scouts of America, claims that “It started in 1971, when we invited girls to join our Exploring program and strengthened in 1998 when we introduced Venturing as an adventure program for boys and girls” (Paragraph 5, Surbaugh). It makes sense to grant official membership to girls, since they’ve already been participating in Boy Scouts through its various programs for generations.
BSA made their decision based on the numerous requests from families and a panel of educators stating that BSA’s programs are 100% relevant to girls. BSA is not taking this decision lightly; they have done extensive research on whether this move will benefit families and girls.
However, BSA understands why som
people are opposed to their idea. In some situations, single-gender environments are the most beneficial. This is why BSA is not going to make Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs co-ed. Instead, they are going to have all-girl dens and all-boy dens. Cub Scout packs will have only girl dens, only boy dens, or both girl dens and boy dens. They will also have a single-gender Scouting program for older girls. Additionally, den leaders will be of the same gender as their scouts so that young women can be leaders for young girls and young men can be leaders for young boys.
Finally, to those who say that this is a ploy to skyrocket membership, Mark Surbaugh says, “For skeptics that ask if our decision was made to boost membership, consider what membership means. It means that more children can benefit from the Scouting program, which has been proven to build character and leadership. It means that more young people will learn life skills that will empower them to take on challenges with greater resilience” (Paragraph 15, Surbaugh). Even if this is a membership ploy, an increase in membership means that more children are benefitting from BSA’s programs.
Would the benefits for parents and families make you care?
While BSA’s decision obviously benefits girls through providing different programs, it also helps out families, especially the parents. Parents love having a single meeting place and time for both their daughters and sons.
Also, in the article, “Welcome to the Family: It’s the same great Scouting program, now available to all” by Bryan Wendell, Joanne Istook, a future BSA mom, explains that “Being in the same pack, but separate dens, is
the perfect combination because it gives them [her children] lots of shared experiences that have helped them grow closer as siblings, while still providing adventures and activities that are aimed at their different ages and abilities” (Paragraph 24, Istook).
This is important because it allows families to spend quality, bonding time together while still allowing children to develop into independent individuals. Finally, allowing brothers and sisters to both be in the same Scouting program gives parents a common set of standards to uphold and values to refer to as they raise their children.
Unofficially, girls have been joining their brothers at BSA events and activities for years, even if they weren’t allowed to go to select events. It’s important to consider the opinions of the girls themselves because while the Girl Scouts of America is a great organization, BSA might be a better fit for girls who love the outdoors or want to participate in the same activities as their brothers. The article “Welcome to the Family: It’s the same great Scouting program, now available to all” tells of a girl named Lora who filled out merit badge paperwork after she learned a BSA skill and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t able to get a badge just like her brother.
In this article, Snazzy Panepinto, Lora’s mother, says, “I am ecstatic and relieved because girls like my daughter are finally able to participate in the program and get recognition for their achievements” (Paragraph 29, Panepinto). These girls, who have put in the same amount of work as the boys, deserve to be recognized for what they’ve done. It’s only fair. “Girls want to join Boy Scouts” Video. Double
click on image. Click again in Drawing.
One of the main concerns of the opposition is that single-gender environments are important for youth. However, in the article, “Allowing girls to join Boy Scouts is a step forward in creating tomorrow’s leaders”, The Editorial Board of The Highlander explains that “[...] single-sex environments are generally not the norm in the real world, and thus it is necessary to teach young men and women how to work together properly and show one other equal respect, regardless of sex” (Paragraph 4, The Editorial Board).
By keeping America’s children separated in different Scouting organizations, we’re not doing them any favors. Eventually, they will need to learn how to treat each other and it’s better to for them to learn this earlier than later on. It is necessary for girls to learn how to thrive and to be strong and confident, even while boys stand beside them. Men and women have to work together in the workplace and in daily life, so young girls and boys also need to learn how to work together. Would the opportunity to provide girls with more choices and paths make you care?
Even if this is only a tiny step in the long journey ahead, BSA’s decision is helping to bolster gender equality in America by opening doors for America’s girls and allowing them to choose their own paths. We should provide kids with more freedom in learning what they want to learn, which is just what BSA is doing by giving girls the option of joining a different Scouting program that has different activities than the Girl Scouts of America. BSA’s decision showcases their support for
positive change in the roles of men and women.
Men and women are equal, so they should be treated as such by being offered the same opportunities. When BSA officially changes their name to Scouts BSA to express their inclusivity to girls and when those first girls are proclaimed Eagle Scouts while standing next to their male peers, the whole world will be watching and waiting. Because guess what happens when small baby steps start to build up? Suddenly, large jumps have been made and future generations are living in a world where gender inequality is nothing more than a topic in history textbooks.
We need to supply women with the same skills and training as men, and this starts with the children. Would the major issue of gender inequality make you care? Would it make you see that progress and positive change is being made?
This historic change is much bigger than just girls being invited to join the BSA. Since girls will now have the opportunity to learn the skills that boys have been learning for generations, they will finally be on equal ground. This is why you should care about girls joining the BSA. This one move will start a domino reaction of girls and boys growing up with equal training in important skills, which will help create equality when they are older.
They will go into school and the workplace knowing the same skills and having the same training, so we will not be able to deny the fact that women can do anything that men can do. When boys and girls are raised to see each other as equals, they will grow up to
treat each other with respect in all aspects of life. If longstanding youth organizations can address the dynamic change in gender equality and if young boys and girls can learn to treat each other with respect and to work together, then so can the rest of the world.
