To think boys should be able to do Brownies?

[PrinceCharming7]

I'm a bit confused why they don't? Girls are allowed to do Scouts/Cubs/Beavers, so why can't boys do brownies?

Its two completely different groups for goodness sake

Some cub groups don't let girls in .....one of our local ones didn't at any rate

Actually there is no point posting

If you dont have a problem with a group being girls only apparently its because you hate all boys

No, women can't rape, legally speaking.

I'm sure the definition will change at some post but at present, one needs a penis to rape, otherwise it is sexual assault.

I get the general undertone from some on here. Girls need their own space to be protected from the big bad boys, whilst it's ok boys don't have their own space!

WOMEN CAN RAPE, WTF... Of course they can.

But mostly they don't. Stats, innit?

I think there should be boys and girls only spaces for children if they want if,my here aren't any spaces for boys but it doesn't mean that girls spaces should go.

I don't agree with the " your welcome to start one" posts it costs money and many of these groups are expensive but are covered by large group numbers, and many have stated before if it were a man/ men that was to start one, they wouldn't be happy to leave their child/ children alone with them.

I just can't any more with this thread...

To reiterate:
Organisations set their own admissions policy based on what the majority of the membership wants
There are lots of mixed sex groups available to join
There are no major single sex boys groups because most would have died out without allowing girls to join
That doesn't prevent anyone trying to set one up

There - that's not too difficult to understand is it?

whilst it's ok boys don't have their own space!

Who has said boys shouldn't have their own space? No-one.

I'm one of the women who learned almost everything I knew about menstruation and safe sex before University, from Guides. I moved school a lot, and always seemed to miss that part of PSE. And my mother was shy about such things.

Another thing that was wonderful about Guiding was that every time we arrived in a new city or country (army brat) I could immediately join a local pack to make friends, get out and explore the local area, and get involved in the community.

Boys being involved in Guiding would change the dynamic massively. And yes, some girls wouldn't be allowed to attend if there were boys, or male leaders.

OP you seem to tally be missing the point that there is an option for a boy who wants to be able to attend something like Brownies. It is called Cubs. He will be made very welcome. My son is. And actually, DD2 goes there too. She's at an all-girls school, and wanted to attend more activities with boys.

I know, the negativity at boys from some on here is disgraceful, hope these boy haters don't have sons

"when I'm bigger will I go to Rainbows like my big sisters mummy?*
"nope!"
"why can't I mummy?"
"because girls should stay away from boys if they want to be themselves and feel safe son"

I will say it again. The decisions of two separate organisations don't have to be consistent.

Scouts decided to accept girls across all sections in 1991. Venture scouts in 1976. All groups had to do this by 2007.

Girlguiding have opted to stay just for girls.

Membership numbers for both are similar around 500,000 each.

But the poster just said that a girl won't grow up to be a rapist.

A group can be quite easy to set up and it doesn't have to be formal. At my sons school there is a casual group of dads who run dads and sons camping trips. There you go, a safe male space for bonding. No insurance or DBS checks required.

*A safe boy space? That would be the world, wouldn't it?

Given that they are the ones doing the raping, the murdering of partners, the violence against other males, etc, etc.*

Boys don't need a safe space from girls.

The phrase 'safe space' irritates the fucking hell out of me.
Usually mentioned alongside 'all men are rapists' blah blah blah.

Also, WTAF has a group of boys under 10 got to do with "...raping, murdering partners" etc?

Regardless, I do think that both boys and girls benefit from single sex spaces.
Young girls especially benefit from the separation as they are not at risk of being overshadowed or sidelined by the boys (which unfortunately does happen, due to it still being predominately a man's world).

I would hope though that there is much, much more to these 'girls only' groups than bloody arts & crafts.
So for that reason OP, YABVU.
You are also being massively unreasonable to encourage this idea in your son that:
girls = crafts
Perpetuating a pathetically outdated stereotype.

If brownies were able to cater appropriately to the type of activities that a lots of girls want to get involved in then maybe they wouldn't feel the need to go to Scouts?

Although I think the reality is that it's easier to put their name down for both groups and take which space comes up first or their older brother did Scouts and perhaps Mum went to help so it's easier to have them go to scouts too? (and it benefits Scouts to keep the parent involved running the group). Probably loads of reasons.

because girls should stay away from boys if they want to be themselves and feel safe son"

That is a wilful misreading of the intention and purpose of Brownies, and of the posters defending the girls-only policy. It is not an escape.

But then you know that don't you?

its not about having a "safe" space, it's about having a girls only space.

I just asked my dd if she would be happy to have boys at Guides, she said that it being all girl is 'one of the perks' of Guides, that she loves having all girls in her club, and that boys are sillier and more immature at her age so they wouldn't be able to talk about the same stuff (she's 10). She said she might not even want to go anymore if boys joined. She did go on to say not all boys are like that, and if some 'nice' ones joined it might be fine, but she liked having the discussions and doing the activities with all girls.

This is what the Guides found when they surveyed their members a few years back- they weren't neutral about it, they actively valued having Guides as all girls.

My dd goes to a mixed school and has lots of boy friends which is unusual as often boys end up not being friends with girls by the end of primary, but she still values her girl space, just like I love a night out with my female colleagues and wouldn't particularly want men coming on that night out, although I'm happy to have other nights out with them too.

It's not about 'safe spaces' for us, more about having fun with other girls.

For that reason, I'd be pro having all boy groups, which I think some Scout/Cub groups still are, as I think lots of boys enjoy being in boy groups, especially when they are teens.

Although this thread is Horrific, regarding some people's attitudes

ritchy, echt and noodle

I honestly don't think there is any point

No one is listening and indeed two or three posters on here are just making shit up now

Agree that "safe space" has had it's day, and has a bunker-like feel when bandied about, though it's a shorthand for saying: an environment in which women/girls can feel free to express themselves in a........,etc.etc.etc. so easier to post.

There's lots of talk here about what harm can eight year old boys cause in a GG group but folk seem to be forgetting that GG is for much older girls too. My daughter attends a co-ed school where she gets to witness every day the casual acceptance of sexism and sexual harassment perpetrated by boys towards girls. Put downs in the classroom, comments about appearance, innuendos when girls contribute ... and this is a decent school with decent kids. My older daughter attended a private school and it was the same.

My younger daughter is a teenager and adores GG because it is girl only. I'm sorry if folk are upset that the scouts allowed girls to join - thoug my understanding was that this was done because numbers were falling critically - but girls and young women do benefit from the all-girl space that GG provides. The OP wants a quiet space for her son to do crafts but she is barking up the wrong tree with GG as there is nothing quiet about my teens' group and the rarely do crafts.

It is true that there are issues with boys' achievement and behaviour in school but this is a complex problem and is no reason to resent girls having GG.

Girl guides are clear that they want GG to remain girl-only so the OP needs to direct her efforts to find her son a club that suits him elsewhere.

I think some Scout/Cub groups still are, as I think lots of boys enjoy being in boy groups

They may be boys groups from the point that they don't currently have any girls, but they can't stop girls from joining.

Rufus

So true, but the sun's coming up an Au. so I'm up for it, after I 've walked the dog.

None so blind as those that will not see, eh?
:o

DD1 has been doing Duke of Edinburgh expeditions recently. Through her all-girl school. Comparing notes with her friend from a mixed school, DD1 was slightly envious to hear that the boys in her friends group carried the tent and more of the food, leaving the girls with lighter packs. Her opinion quickly turned to horror when she learned that the boys then held onto the map and insisted on doing all of the navigation because 'girls can't read maps'.
That's why Guiding is best staying all-girl. Some boys (not all... but many) take their (on average) greater muscle mass to mean that they are mentally and physically superior to girls.

I know Rufus but I might keep trying!