Should the Girl Scouts of America be Allowed to Include Transgenders?
The

Girl

Scouts

of

America

has

recently

issued

a

statement

allowing

transgenders — associated as a girl — will be accepted as a member. There has been a continuous argument with right-wing conservatives throughout the entire country but specifically in
Louisiana. Upon the release of the statement, many donors have stopped funding the program considering they believe transgenders shouldn’t be allowed in the gender specific society. There have been only a few stipulations considering transgender entry and portray the purpose to be for the well being and safety of the member. Changes in something that is correlated as traditional has caused a stir throughout the balance of equality and proves ideas can be changed in an instance upon someone or something being too insensitive about a subject.
Therefore, Girl Scouts of America has just begun a revolution within the transgender youth community and should be ceased regarding they are straying away from their foundational beliefs. The origin of Girl Scouts was brought to life within the state of Georgia. Girl Scouts of
America was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 claiming that her idea spawned from the creators of Boy Scouts. She believed that there should be an organization girls could be involved

Humphreys 2 in where they “ had a place to grow and develop their leadership skills.” Therefore, her legacy would live in hopes of Girl Scouts continuing to be “‘girl led’” (Low). Given this statement, Girl
Scouts of America has taken a turn from its original views and relied on liberalist sided opinions including other influences, such as donors and district-based Girl Scout troops taking into account the constantly changing world. The allowance of transgenders, those associated as being a girl, is falling away from these ideas in a sense that the organization would eventually turn to equally led and no gender scrutiny which seems to be the opposite of the premises Low had intended. Considering Juliette Gordon Low based her idea of Girl Scouts by Boy Scouts, are we seeing Boy Scouts reform in terms of allowing gays?
Growing up, Girl Scouts seem to be the fad. Every girl in my community would wear their blue, brown, or green vests to school and I was always envious of them. My mother eventually gave in to my begging and I was an official Girl Scout that would be know to live up to such high standards that were set forth. From that day on, I had a desire to live up to those ideals and be the best I could be in everything I pursued. Some claim that this change is what the organization needed in order to further their success but others refuse to accept this proposal considering the beliefs Juliette Gordon Low instilled. The burning question from Diana Samuels in her article, “Transgender Youth in Girl Scouts? National Group Says Yes, Louisiana Council
Says No” whether or not transgenders should be allowed in Girl Scouts. This is also the main question right-wing conservatives are asking themselves while supplying their opinion to the public. Obviously the word “reform” cannot be found in their vocabulary and they are taking on the task of convincing those that are sisters, granddaughters, alumnae, etc. to take a stand against

Humphreys 3 this decision. Although, for each troop within each state, they are under their own discretion of allowing transgenders.
On the other hand, I do acknowledge the change that Girl Scouts of America is making and understand their slight reasoning behind the decision. Since Girl Scouts of America is branching out of their traditional views, they are supplying more opportunity for not only girls but those that are associated with being a girl. Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts, had progressive views in which during this time (1912) was not amongst the norm and frowned upon by most. Even though she possessed progressive ideas then, these are now correlated with being standard. The ideas and tools she possessed allowed her to make changes and with those changes generated into something bigger now. Mark that many are eager to learn more about this transgender issue but also note that this conclusion might not have been a reality if the infamous
Caitlyn Jenner scandal wouldn’t have irrupted. The Girl Scout troops of Western Washington are backed by the national organization of Girl Scouts in due course of their support of accepting the mission of Girl Scouts and accepting transgender children. Others, such as the Louisiana troops, do not provide the option of transgender acceptance. ( Samuels )
Transgenders are included in the minority sector of not only the U.S. but the world.
Transgenders were at first considered as “transexuals” but then changed in accordance that “sex” is defined as being male or female from birth. Therefore the conclusion is that “ Gender is so subjective it doesn’t even necessitate a consideration of others’ subjective reactions” (Fleming
117). Whether some believe this is true, gender should be thought of as objective rather than subjective due to the sole fact there should be no gap between what is known as gender and sex — essentially the same thing. Being in the minority sector is also known as objective. Factors

Humphreys 4 that come with being specified as a minority are lower income rates, home and insurance presented as non-existent, and opportunity given in rare occasion. Crosby Burns suggests in his article, “The Federal Budget and Gay and Transgender Families” that most families with transgender children see a noticeably inferior income as opposed to families with children claiming their birth sex (or considered straight). Those statistics therefore prove that families with transgender children have less opportunities. Girl Scouts have now shown the public that there are resources for transgender children and are willing to supply enough efforts to make the accepted transgenders feel equal. With those families’ circumstances, they see decreased chance in the workforce and in turn are limited in insurance and even housing as well. Newly appointed
Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan (Rep), has drawn up a budget plan that not only cuts spending but will ultimately lessen the LGBT groups chance of surviving in the majority-based straight entity. (Burns)
Subsequently determining the acceptance of transgenders, Girl Scouts expanded the opportunity of the “girls” associated by providing more awareness and resource of leadership positions outside of their communities. According to Anna Maria Chavez — CEO of Girl
Scouts — “a lmost nine in 10 teen girls (89 percent) say men outnumber women in leadership positions today.” This statistic was provided in essence of Girl Scouts of America beginning
Troop Capitol Hill which consists of an all-female group emerged from the U.S. Congress. Troop
Capitol Hill was created in June of 2015 in hopes of giving Girl Scouts of America a gateway to showing girls that their are role models serving in executive positions. In spite of this, Girl
Scouts decision to accept transgenders has affected the importance of women leaders and how they leave their legacy. This form of legitimacy is slightly corrupted in due fact that no

Humphreys 5
Congress-women are transgender although there are some that support the LGBT community.
Even though there are no transgender women, this does provide an opportunity for those Girl
Scouts that are to see that they are supported within the hierarchy of the United States.
Girl Scouts of America has shown progress with creating a program that is “for every girl” ( Feeney) . At the same time, though, they have defied their core values and found loop-holes to make a difference. What would be the purpose of transgenders, those associated as being a girl, wanting to join such an organization if studies show that “women have been underrepresented for decades”? (Chavez) Furthermore, with upcoming budget cuts, the LGBT community will be forced to take drastic measures in order to find their place within the work force, etc. This continues to lessen the possibility of transgenders progressing. Ultimately, Girl
Scouts has taken the right steps to enhance awareness of transgenders but despite this, their chances will still be scarce regardless of the efforts taken to provide them with equal opportunity throughout society.

Humphreys 6

Works Cited
Chavez, Anna Marie. "Celebrating the Future of Female Leadership with Today's Women
Leaders." The Blog . 19 May 2015. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Feeney, Nolan. “Girl Scouts Chapter Raises $250K After Rejecting Anti-Transgender Gift.”
Time. 1 July 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
"Girl Scouts: Transgender Girls Are Welcome." Q13fox . 20 May 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Burn, Crosby. "The Federal Budget and Gay and Transgender Families." Center For American
Progress . 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
Fleming, Bruce. "The Vocabulary Of Transgender Theory." Society 52.2 (2015): 114-120.
Academic Search Premier . Web. 3 Nov. 2015.
Samuels, Diana. “Transgender Youth in Girl Scouts? National Group Says Yes, Louisiana
Council Says No . ” Nola . 26 May 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.