Don’t blame girls for Scouts change
When the Boy Scouts announced a new name for its program — Scouts BSA — a predictable amount of outrage was targeted at girls, women and liberals.
That anger is misdirected. You can be mad that the Boy Scouts of America, which have been known as the Boy Scouts for 108 years, changed to Scouts BSA since girls have entered the ranks and will be eligible to achieve Eagle Scout rank. This was a business decision made by the Boy Scouts in the face of declining membership.
In fact, news reports state that the program for the older boys and girls will largely be divided along gender lines, with singlesex units pursuing the same types of activities, earning the same array of merit badges and potentially having the same pathway to the coveted Eagle Scout award.
The Girls Scouts, which sees the changes as a threat to its own organization, has advocated for singlegender scouting. Girl Scout leaders said they were blindsided by the move, and they are gearing up an aggressive campaign to recruit and retain girls as members.
“No matter how Boy Scouts may try to restructure their programming to include girls, the fact is, our Girl Scout program doesn’t just include girls, it was and continues to be developed specifically for girls. Only we bring the 100plusyear history, expertise and databacked programming designed specifically to meet the unique needs, learning styles and interest of girls,” said Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri.
No outside organization forced the Boy Scouts to change. Those screaming loudest about how this is another liberal plot to ruin America are emasculating the Boy Scout leadership — men — who made the decision.
Rather than jumping on this as a chance to bash women, girls and political opponents, those so outraged should turn their anger to the men in charge.