Scouting for Differences

I’m happy that the courts have voted to keep the Boy Scouts as the Boy Scouts and not the Teen Scouts or some other name that would signify that girls are welcome. I’m not an anti-feminist or against equal opportunities. But as the mother of a 13-year-old son who is in Boy Scouts and a 10-year-old daughter who is in Girl Scouts, I’ve thought about the many positive aspects to scouting as it currently exists.

There is evidence that shows that boys and girls excel when they are in a same-sex environment and not “mixed” company. My own common sense as a parent tells me that there are times when it’s good for boys just to be with boys and for girls just to be with girls. We should continue promoting separate yet equal activities for young men and young women.

One of the values of scouting is that it gives young men the opportunity to learn not just from adult leaders but from their peers, too. Scouting is designed to help build boys into responsible men who will become leaders of their community and country. For someone who is shy and reserved, it’s a big step forward to assume a leadership position. I almost can guarantee that if girls were present, my son wouldn’t have volunteered to be an assistant patrol leader or to lead a hike. Of course, there would be boys who would assume those roles. It would be the boys who are outgoing, self-confident in everything they do and who are comfortable around girls. It would leave others, like my son, feeling left out.

In some respects, I feel sorry for the girl who sued to be able to join the Boy Scouts. Her reasons for wanting to join her brother’s scout troop were much the same as any other boy who joins Boy Scouts: hiking, camping and camaraderie. She said there was no Girl Scout troop near her, so when her request to join the Boy Scouts was denied, she sued. Why was her recourse to file a lawsuit? Why couldn’t her mother or other community-minded woman start a Girl Scout troop to offer those same activities?

I’m all for equal opportunity, but in this situation, I’m for separate and equal activities. I don’t want my son going on a weekend hike or a weeklong backpacking trip with girls.

There is a reason why separate soccer leagues, basketball and softball teams exist for girls and boys. Boys and girls progress and develop at different rates, physically and mentally.

I think of myself as a parent who supports Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. May they both have a long and healthy life, just not together.