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?

I'm so pleased I'm not the only one who thinks it's important that Guiding stays a girls only organisation. My DD is in the NZ equivalent of Rainbows and as she naturally gravitates towards playing with boys at school Pippins is a great place to develop female friendships, amongst other things.

I think that's the issue: Cubs are often run by women. It's a shame more men don't volunteer (to be honest my DH was rather press ganged originally, but now he enjoys it).

YABU

It's very important for girls to have a girls only space.

I think any Rainbows or Brownies that only does crafts and sewing and the like is really doing its members a disservice because when you look at the badge book there's so much they could be doing. It's a great opportunity for girls to have a go at new things without the pressure of boys being around.

I think the assumption (or reality) that Cubs do 'boys' stuff' and brownies do 'girls' stuff' is much more of a problem than the existence of groups that exclude either boys or girls.

My DD does rainbows and they do a massive range of activities. I don't think it is restricted to activities perceived as 'girlie'.

Yes my DH's Boys Brigade are always baking, always raking out my baking store cupboard. Lots of boys love it.

Lilac No I'm not suggesting they get kicked out - I'm saying that accepting girls was imposed on our scouting groups - they were not suffering a recruitment crisis - quite the opposite. But it feels unfair that some girls get to do both brownies and scouts while some boys remain on the waiting list for years - it's that popular here. It's a lot easier to get into brownies....but I hear it's also a lot less interesting.
I feel that if girls join brownies they should not be allowed to join scouts too, if spaces are limited. The two organisations join together for venture scouts here - so there is some connection.

yy lilac our Guides do some craft, but they also do firelighting, wood craft, rope work, organise entire evenings themselves and the unit, do world culture evenings, camp skills all sorts :)

Presumably no males stepped forward to volunteer
I'm afraid that's all gone now. I remember a totally unfounded allegation against a male nursery teacher & my DCs school led to 6 months suspension and a lot of horrid gossip, he finally left and joined the police, the family involved later admitted they had lied.
Of course there have and still are, some nasty perverts, but the vast majority of men are not like that but they would never volunteer now. Just doing so is seen as suspicious.

statley but why is it unfair Scouting and Guiding are two different organisations.

That's like saying the Local Football Club allows boys and girls, and the Netball Club only allows girls and it not "being fair" The two groups are not related.

Nothing that hasn't already been said - separate organisations, Scouts decision to go mixed was theirs alone.

Interestingly, Girlguiding is, I believe, the bigger organisation in the UK, despite only having half the population to go at.

If there are long waiting lists, then obviously more people need to volunteer.

We do plenty of crafts at our Beaver/Cub groups.

One of our Beavers is very typically 'girly' - loves wearing dress-up dresses, collects Monster High Dolls, loves pink, yadda yadda, all the 'stereotypical girls stuff' - he's one of our keenest and most reliable Beavers by far.

I agree op. Boys need boy only spaces too.

Stately You in the UK? Thought Ventures had completely gone by now.

The OP doesn't want 'boy only' spaces.

She wants her boy to be allowed into a girl only space.

Lucille But OP doesn't want a boy only space, she wants Brownies to become a mixed space...

And nothing stopping anyone from setting up a boy only club/organisation.

They are very similar...they are staffed with volunteers, they represent fantastic value for money, taking 2 places is being a bit greedy - it's just how I feel, make brownies unisex...allow kids to chose their preferred organsation regardless of sex.

Off you go then practy

I am a Guide Leader - it's brilliant :)

It's very important for girls to have a girls only space

Why though?
This keeps being said, but nobody explains what they mean?

Perhaps we should make rugby clubs and football clubs play to the same rules, so people can pick which they prefer...

The type of activities offered by any Scouting or Guiding unit is strongly influenced by the interests and skills of the leaders. My Brownies were known for being far less 'girly' than the other pack in the village.

There are, sadly, many girls who's parents simply wouldn't let them attend something mixed.

I'm involved in Scouting too... son's new Scout leader is very arty-crafty. They do borrow leaders from other units to bring in other activities though.

YANBU boys should be able to go along to a boys only organisation and girls should be able to too. Perhaps the best thing would be to have some boys only and some mixed beavers/cubs groups but keep rainbows/brownies as girls only

Adulting it's bee explained a few times actually.

Many girls are dominated by boys in mixed spaces, and won't try certain types of activities when boys are around. That is why girls only space matters.