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Original poster

To think boys should be able to do Brownies?

559 replies

PrinceCharming7 · 15/07/2016 20:14

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

OP posts:
AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected · 15/07/2016 21:40

Have I said boys can't, shouldn't or don't have their own spaces? Nope

And who is asking for these boys only spaces???
I don't see that happening on this thread, nobody is complaining that scouts is mixed now, just that Brownies still isn't

Original poster
PrinceCharming7 · 15/07/2016 21:40

I mean male dominated

OP posts:
WankersHacksandThieves · 15/07/2016 21:41

But what about the boys that get shy and withdrawn in environments with boys only? Where do they get to go?

Nowhere Prince because they don't fucking matter....after all they are only going to end up rapists and murderers anyway.

echt · 15/07/2016 21:41

The you need to find a group/activity that caters for such boys.

Better yet, if you feel so strongly, set one up yourself.

crazybat · 15/07/2016 21:42

I was a scout. I was pissed off as I wanted to do both scouts and guides but was told I had to pick one or the other.

Maybe they should start brubs!! Lol X

RitchyBestingFace · 15/07/2016 21:42

That's also been explained Adulting - because brownies and guides want to stay girls only. And because lots of nurturing mixed sex groups are available - like Scouts, Cubs, Rainbows, BB etc.

Floggingmolly · 15/07/2016 21:42

Brownies is the "safe, nurturing" space it is because it's girls only, Adult, are you wilfully misunderstanding?
Cubs are for both girls and boys; and you reject out of hand the notion of setting up an all boys group - because you don't want either of those options, you want the boys to strong arm their way into Brownies.
Because It's not faaaiiirr. How ridiculous.

Griphook · 15/07/2016 21:42

*Today 21:35 LilacSpunkMonkey

Griphook give over with your 'gender disappointment'. I've got sons. I love them every bit as much as my daughter and they make me proud every single day. No general disappointment here.*

Of course you do, never suggested you didn't but without drailing this thread, there numerous thread about people being disappointed when they find out the gender of their unborn baby and 99% of the time it's when it a boy.

Fwiw I don't disagree with female/male only places/clubs/schools for a multitude of reason. I just took umbridge with you initial comment.

crazybat · 15/07/2016 21:42

I was a scout. I was pissed off as I wanted to do both scouts and guides but was told I had to pick one or the other.

Maybe they should start brubs!! Lol X

AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected · 15/07/2016 21:42

Isn't scouts mixed? There you go. Problem solved

On the one hand posters are arguing that guides is girls only because it's not the same as scouts, it's very different and pps on this thread have described it as better than scouts… then say send them to scouts for the same experience

Which is it?

bearofnothingness · 15/07/2016 21:43

no boys shouldn't do brownies
wtf

i loved being a brownie and a girl guide with all girls

until we have 100% equality some things should remain as they are

crazybat · 15/07/2016 21:43

Or crownies :)

VestalVirgin · 15/07/2016 21:43

Separate groups often serve to reinforce tired old stereotypes, which should be challenged rather than supported.

Actually, it is the other way round; mixed groups reinforce stereotypes.

Forced separation, such as we had in school sports, reinforces stereotypes, as it takes place for the sole purpose of reinforcing stereotypes.

There's lots of research on how girls' schools are actually an environment where girls can be good at maths, etc, without being hindered by stereotyping.

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 15/07/2016 21:44

that's not much help if the girls they're friends with are busy with Rainbows/brownies

As an ex Rainbow leader, it's max 1.5 hours a week. They're not permanently busy with it.

I agree that it's good to have girl only spaces. For DS I wish Beavers had been boy only.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/07/2016 21:46

I can understand why some parents of boys get frustrated when they can't get a space in Scouts/Cubs/Beavers when girls are able to access both organisations. However, the vast majority of leaders in these organisations now (especially in the lower age groups) are women so it is to be expected that both boys and girls are and should be welcome.

I think the problem (if there is one) is that Brownies aren't always offering what some children want. I don't think the answer is to open it up to boys either, I think there needs to be places that offer something for all types of children. A lot of boys get a more male oriented environment in sport, if you have a boy that isn't into sport but still wants to do adventurous stuff, they have to accept that that will be in a mixed environment.

RufusTheReindeer · 15/07/2016 21:46

But what about the boys that get shy and withdrawn in environments with boys only? Where do they get to go?

They get to go to cubs and beavers which are mixed

AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected · 15/07/2016 21:47

As an ex Rainbow leader, it's max 1.5 hours a week. They're not permanently busy with it.

That is nonsense, my experience of both of my DDs and their friends is that for most kids, more than one or two after school activities is enough/too much.

I keep mine to 2 a week so that they have some down time and (unfortunately) also homework time, as well as a few evenings where they're available to have friends home after school.

If they're "taken" with Rainbows, they're not going to also have time/energy for the other groups too

RitchyBestingFace · 15/07/2016 21:47

Shy withdrawn boys - play dates, theatre groups, film club, chess club, arts and crafts, Minecraft or here's thought - maybe they shouldn't join a group as generally shy introverts aren't really into big groups - it's not compulsory.

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/07/2016 21:48

LilacSpunkMonkey
Have I said boys can't, shouldn't or don't have their own spaces? Nope. They're more than welcome to them. I wouldn't object. But I don't agree they should be pushing their way into girl-only spaces.

Around here (and many other places) there are more girls only or mixed groups then boys only. The last boys only group (boys brigade) stopped when a group of girls wanted to join and pushed their way in, was that fair?

Mycraneisfixed · 15/07/2016 21:49

OP are you this annoying IRL?

echt · 15/07/2016 21:51

The last boys only group (boys brigade) stopped when a group of girls wanted to join and pushed their way in, was that fair?

If brute force was employed by the girls, then yes, it was unfair. Far more likely that the BB agreed, don't you think?

Original poster
PrinceCharming7 · 15/07/2016 21:51

But if you're saying the boys shouldn't go if they are shy then the girls shouldn't have gone because they're shy from the boys? Hmm

There are other posters who agree with me, so it's not just me... It's hardly being annoying. It's stopping the ridiculous way to over the top feminists from takin over

OP posts:
Twowrongsdontmakearight · 15/07/2016 21:52

Adulting. I'm pretty sure Rainbows is 1 hour a week and Brownies 1.5 hours.

echt · 15/07/2016 21:54

But if you're saying the boys shouldn't go if they are shy then the girls shouldn't have gone because they're shy from the boys?

??????

Floggingmolly · 15/07/2016 21:55

If play dates are being refused because all the invited children are socially depleted after a single weekly Rainbows/Brownie meeting, it's just an excuse, Adult.
Just saying...

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