In a surprising move on International Day of the Girl, the Boy Scouts of America announced they would start allowing girls to join their ranks. While some view this as a progressive step, the Girl Scouts of the USA are not thrilled about it.
Girl Scouts Respond
Girl Scouts President, Linda Morris, expressed her frustration in an open letter to the BSA, stating, “We were surprised by the lack of transparency regarding your plans to test a girls’ program with millennial parents.” She further criticized the BSA for attempting to switch to a co-ed model while claiming to be a single-gender organization. Interestingly, while the letter mentions millennial parents, many conservatives are pointing fingers at “liberals” for this shift.
Membership Concerns
Some speculate that the real reason behind the Boy Scouts’ push for inclusivity is declining boy membership. Linda highlighted in her letter, “It’s well-known that BSA has faced challenges with dwindling numbers. Instead of turning into a co-ed organization, we believe they should focus on reaching out to all boys, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, like African American and Latino boys.”
BSA’s Defense
In defense, the BSA claims they are merely responding to requests from kids and parents for broader access to their programs. Following the announcement, the Girl Scouts published a blog post titled “Girl Scouts: Experts in Girl Leadership.” They reminded everyone that they’ve dedicated over a century to serving girls and emphasized that the benefits of a single-gender environment have been well-supported by various studies and organizations.
Future Initiatives
The BSA is currently working on a new initiative for older girls, which they say will allow them to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout rank and will be rolled out in 2019. It’s worth considering a suggestion from a retired educator who tweeted about the changes: why not allow kids to choose either program? After all, isn’t the goal to equip our children with valuable skills?
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Conclusion
In summary, the Boy Scouts’ decision to allow girls has led to significant backlash from the Girl Scouts, who argue it undermines their mission and the value of single-gender programs. As both organizations adapt to changing societal norms, the conversation around inclusion and focused programming continues.