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?

You do realise Brownies isn't under 8, right? It's 7-10.

As I said, sod the needs of girls worldwide so long as Ptolemy from Islington can exercise his right to be a Brownie.

Also to your point above, you feel that Muslim girls should only have the option of religious groups as they should stay in mosques? Really?

Actually, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides are girls only until 14.

My own view as someone who has been involved in Guiding for 30 years is that eventually given the pressure Guiding will allow boys in
I think that would be a shame

I run a Guide group and am glad that it is only girls. When I think of it being a 'safe' space, I don't think of it in terms of just physical safety but emotional safety - a space where they are free to be themselves.

We do loads of activities - fire lighting, den building, camping and sports with a little bit of craft (yes from Baker Ross but that's because it is quite cheap and easy to navigate their online catalogue!).

I think it is great that the girls have somewhere where they don't have to worry about make-up or what they are wearing which I think would soon change if boys were introduced. I'm not blaming the boys for that, it is just the way it is.

I also teach and sometimes just have the girls, and sometimes have the same girls as part of a mixed group. I have seen how much they change when the boys are there and what they are comfortable saying / doing in front of them.

However, I do think that it is a shame that scouts went mixed as I think it is important for boys to have a boy only space. Although from my experience, I think girls being introduced to 'boy' groups has less of an impact on the boys.

Surely Muslim girls will have safe areas at mosques. They don't need a church hall to play and socialise away from boys.

Who are you to judge? And if you imagine for one fat minute that a mosque is like Brownies, then you need your head felt.

2StripedSocks Sat 16-Jul-16 08:55:11

Sorry Deut still no argument. Surely Muslim girls will have safe areas at mosques. They don't need a church hall to play and socialise away from boys.

And just how does isolating the girls away from other cultures help? While they may not be with boys, the time spent with the girls and leaders of other cultures will help reduce the potential for isolation.

Boys do have other choices. Some girls would have no choice if Brownies, etc were opened up.

Striped you've also not yet stated what your issue is. That there is choice at all or that boys can't choose boys only?

If there is no need for it why do we have half a million members and massive waiting lists?

There are some all boy only scout or cub groups about.
I know because we've moved 4 times in v short space of time and at 3 places I was told they don't accept girls. I think it depends on your area 8f this is the case or not.

Have you tried different cub/scout packs or different district?

There is no need for girls own Brownies,there just isn't. Some non Muslimd just like to use religion to cover up their prejudice towards under 10 boys as they fear their delicate flowers will melt in their company.

While muslims, and indeed quite a few other religious groups would find the single -sex environment of Brownies a draw, non-muslims do not need to lean on this, many just want some time and place where girls can be free to express themselves outside the immediate expectations and influences of the male world.

I would expect the same for boys.

Oh, right, you're just an ignorant racist then. Shame- because there is an interesting discussion to be had. Just not with you.

"I know because we've moved 4 times in v short space of time and at 3 places I was told they don't accept girls. I think it depends on your area 8f this is the case or not."

No, that's not right. beavers, Cubs and Scouts all accept girls. No regional opt out!

Never mind Ptolemy from isligton, what about Jack from the sink estate that could do with a safe nurturing place to be that can't get a space because Arabella would rather be a Scout than a guide. It works both ways.

I agree with you wankers but scouting took their decision thinking it was needed for their survival. Which it probably was...

That's a shame- but unfortunately, there probably wouldn't be Scouts for either Jack or Arabella if the decision to admit girls hadn't been taken.......numbers were declining fast.

Never mind Ptolemy from isligton, what about Jack from the sink estate that could do with a safe nurturing place to be that can't get a space because Arabella would rather be a Scout than a guide. It works both ways.

Do you have any evidence that Scouts are turning away boys because their troops are full of girls?

It would seem that Scouts only turned to girls when the boys fell away.

I think there are many areas where the scouts is all boys. Where I am there was a discussion between the leaders of both organisation and we chose to keep it single sex. I think it is more common where there are thriving Brownie / Guide groups that do a range of activities and don't just do crafts.

There is a need for single sex places and that has nothing to do with stereotypical genders. I'm a 'tomboy' and always have been. If there is a group of males and a group of females, I will always gravitate more towards the males as I have more in common with them. However, I really value time alone with just females as there are some issues I just wouldn't want to discuss with my male friends.