The case for equity and inclusion: Ending BSA’s specious coed ban

Nov 15, 2022

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in BSA’s future, girls in BSA, misconceptions, the right way to do it

In 2018 and 2019, BSA allowed girls into its boys-only programs. This inclusion was accompanied by a ban on coed Cub Scout dens or coed Scouts BSA troops.

The coed ban is specious: It rests on misinformation and on sexist, racist, and harmful folklore. Its pile-on effects reduce youth safety, harm members, and harm the program. In its campaign to perpetuate the ban, BSA gaslights families and volunteers. This and more signals cultural rot, which is catastrophic to an organization that protects youth and develops leaders.

To end these harms, restore trust, promote equity and inclusion, be relevant to today’s families, and live the values it teaches, BSA must drop the specious coed ban. This allows a choice of coed or single-gender. It also must correct the culture that allowed it to implement and perpetuate the ban.

The ban can and should be dropped rapidly. The change must not be delayed with a pilot program.

Comments

2 responses to “The case for equity and inclusion: Ending BSA’s specious coed ban”

Awake Energy Warrior

May 7, 2024

Thank you so much for this! This is perfectly said. Reading this, written by a native-born US scouter with long BSA experience, is very heartening.

I’m an old WOSM/WAGGS scout from another first-world country that combined it’s girl and boy scouting organizations so long ago that the words for gender-segregated scouting sound quaint. I’m now den leader and cubmaster in a BSA family pack that ignores a lot of this gender BS to just get on with the scouting and outdoor adventure, so I know that there is organic movement towards normalcy and a sound future for the BSA (that’s going to have the ditch the name eventually), but it’s hard to tell how wide this organic movement is. I’ve been told online that I didn’t develop the best character because my scouting experience wasn’t gender segregated, for example. I want to think that scouter is a total outlier, but BSA policy and talking makes me very unsure for all the reasons you outline above.

It’s also so nice to see allyship done so well. Right, I should mention, I’m a woman. Relevant context.

Reply
1. Aren Cambre
  
  May 7, 2024
  
  Thank you for this comment!
  
  I’ve been told online that I didn’t develop the best character because my scouting experience wasn’t gender segregated, for example.
  
  What a stupid statement! I hope that wasn’t by someone currently in BSA!
  
  Reply

The case for equity and inclusion: Ending BSA’s specious coed ban

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2 responses to “The case for equity and inclusion: Ending BSA’s specious coed ban”

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