GIRL SCOUTS GIRL SCOUTS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE

AGES: A LOOK AT AGES: A LOOK AT GIRL SCOUTS IN GIRL SCOUTS IN

AMERICAAMERICAColleen M. AHAP-

NOPHorace Greeley H.S. Chappaqua,

NY

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:ESSENTIAL QUESTION:How did Girl Scouts as an organization reflect the changing roles of

women in society?

OriginsOrigins

Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon LowCalled Girl Guides for its first yearThe first troop meeting was held on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia

The idea came from Lord Baden Powell,who founded Boy Scouts in England, and his sister, Agnes, who founded Girl GuidesAt this time, a woman’s future was limited, as was her schooling

One of the first troops (circa 1912)

Four of the first badges

PurposePurposeThe purpose of Girl Scouts was to establish self-development, good citizenship, and love of the outdoorsBecause of her marital problems (after his death, Low’s husband left his estate to his mistress), Low encouraged independence in girlsWhile still promoting the ideals of the era (housekeeping, child care, etc), Girl Scouts also emphasized independence, physical fitness, and careers for women

Juliette Low awarding the Golden Eaglet, the highest award in Girl Scouts at the time

UniformsUniformsIn this time period, women usually wore long dresses that covered their wrists, neck, and ankles

Problem: Juliette Low wanted the girls to be able to move around

The end result was a short dress, cinched around the middle with a belt, with thick stockings for winter and lighter tights for warm weather

In 1912, the uniform was actually blueIt was changed to khaki in 1914, and to the now-famous green in 1928

UniformsUniformsUniforms were a way for the organization to be recognized

When they were in public, people would be able to associate the girls with a specific organization

This would connect Girl Scouts with a helpful, not revolutionary, purpose

At first, the badges were sewn onto the sleeves of the dress

Only later were vests and sashes created

1940s1970s

present

Badges and HandbooksBadges and HandbooksOriginally the badges were to let the girls show off their prowess in “acceptable” activities, such as sewing, cooking, etcThe handbook contained “helpful” information on how a proper lady should think and act

While Girl Scouts professed some new ideas, the organization mostly stayed true to the ideas of the “ideal woman” of that time

The first handbook

(1913)

1920 Girl Scout Handbook

The Girl Scout LawsThe Girl Scout Laws

The values of this time period were reflected in the laws

Cheerful- “…(she) should sing even if she dislikes it”

Women were meant to make the world more pleasant

19121. A Girl Scout’s Honor is to be Trusted.2. A Girl Scout is Loyal.3. A Girl Scout's Duty Is to be Useful and to Help Others 4. A Girl Scout is a Friend to All, and a Sister to every other Girl Scout no matter to what Social Class she May Belong.5. A Girl Scout Is Courteous.6. A Girl Scout Keeps Herself Pure.7. A Girl Scout Is a Friend to Animals.8. A Girl Scout Obeys Orders.9. Girl Scout is Cheerful.10. A Girl Scout is Thrifty.

The Girl Scout LawsThe Girl Scout LawsIn 1916, the 6th Law was changed to Cheerful, and the 9th Law was changed to PureIn 1917, the 4th Law was changed to read: A Girl Scout is a Friend to All and a Sister to Every Other Girl ScoutAfter 1917, the laws would not be changed again until 1972

At that point, Girl Scouts itself, as well as their ideals, had undergone many changes

A “medieval” representation of

the Girl Scout Laws

and Promise

World War IWorld War I (1914-1918) (1914-1918)

While the men went off to fight in Europe, someone had to pick up the jobs that they left behind

Women began to work in jobs that had never before been done by females

Girls helped to conserve and preserve food, sold war bonds, worked in hospitals, and collected peach pits for use in gas mask filters

The war gave girls the chance to earn over 25 badges

Child Nurse, etc

Girl Scouts team up to preserve fruits and

vegetables to prevent food shortages

Elizabeth FelegaraElizabeth FelegaraElizabeth Felegara was in the first Chappaqua Girl Scout troop in 1937Some of her activities included hiking, photography, knots and lashing, and learning Morse CodeIn the early 1940s (during WWII), she and her troop helped their mothers (who were nurses) in local army hospitals

“I suppose we were the forerunners of The Candy Stripers.”

1938

Mrs. Felegara with her troop in 1941

Elizabeth FelegaraElizabeth FelegaraThe girls planted Victory Gardens, even in 1940, before Pearl Harbor

“We…had a Victory Garden Contest…whichI won…”

One who was of age had to (and wanted to) look like a lady

“…we asked Betty White to speak to the girls about good grooming- taking showers, using deodorant, a tad of lipstick, etc.”

Makeup was becoming popularWomen were becoming an everyday part of society, and they wanted to look presentable

A Victory Garden booklet

Lou Henry HooverLou Henry HooverThroughout her life, Mrs. Hoover loved Girl Scouts

"To me…scouting has always been the most important.”She became the leader of Troop VIII

She served on every branch of Girl Scouting: from troop leader, to president of the national organization, to national board member

An example of the “new woman”- active in society

As First Lady, she was the honorary head of Girl Scouts

Mrs. Hoover making her first radio address in the White House,

accompanied by two Girl Scouts

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression(1929-1939)(1929-1939)

During the Depression, membership in Girl Scouts continued to grow, partially because it provided relief and opportunities to girls (especially poorer ones)The girls did community service to help those severely affected by the Depression

Collecting clothing, making quilts, carving wood toys, gathering food, assisting in hospitals, participating in food drives and canning programs, and providing meals

Theatre, movies, art, dance, and music were all distractions from the hopelessness of everyday life, and the Girl Scouts participated in and created more of them

Gathering food for neighbors in need

WWIIWWII(1939-1945)(1939-1945)

During the war, Girl Scouts rose to the occasion and greatly helped on the home front

They operated bicycle courier services, invested over 48,000 hours in Farm Aide projects, collected fat and scrap metal, and grew Victory Gardens

They collected over 1.5 million pieces of clothing and shipped them to Europe for the freed prisoners of warPamphlets were given out about service projects and how to act in an aid raid

Girl Scouts learn about aviation through the Wing

Scout program

WWIIWWIIUp until this point, there wasn’t an event that really gave the Girl Scouts a chance to help and prove themselvesWomen met the needs of the nation by taking on jobs in factories that were once occupied by men

After the war ended, many women didn’t want to go back to their old lives, which paved the way for the “revolution” of women in the workplace

The Girl Scouts of WWII became the women who fought for the right to work in “a man’s world”

Girl Scouts collect scrap metal for recycling for the war effort.

1950s1950s

Brown vs Board of Ed (1954) shocked many in the demand for desegregation of the schools

However, the Girl Scouts has already begun mixing races

Ebony Magazine (1952)- “Girl Scouts in the South are making steady progress toward breaking down racial taboos."

Some of the “social outcasts” that were Girl Scouts expended much effort to include were the daughters of migrant agricultural workers, military personnel, Native Americans, Alaskan Eskimos, and the physically challenged

Much of the rest of society hadn’t accepted these groups as equal to whites yet

Two Senior Girl Scouts prepare for a camping adventure.

Girl Scouts encourage international friendships.

1950s1950sHowever, women were still considered inferior to men, and only there to serve and please malesThere were textbooks detailing what a good wife should and should not do

“Don't complain if he's home late for dinner, or even stays out all night.”“His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.”“Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.”“In all things be led by your husband's wishes…”

1960s1960sThe 60s were a time of great social unrest

Martin Luther King, Jr and others fought for black civil rights

The Girl Scout National Council publicly announced that the organization supported civil rights

In this time, Girl Scouts was divided into Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior Scouts, depending on ageNASA invited 100 girls to see the launch of Apollo 12 at Cape Kennedy, FloridaBy 1969, over 43% of women were working

In the 1950s, a woman’s place was in the house

Girl Scouts witness the

Apollo 12 moon launch at Cape

Kennedy, Florida.

The Girl Scout LawThe Girl Scout Law

The law became one sentence, focusing more on the qualities expected of every human being, and not just a woman

Reason: women had become more valued members of society, and not just people to take care of the home

1972I will do my best:To be honest To be fairTo help where I am needed To be cheerful To be friendly and considerate To be a sister to every Girl Scout To respect authority To use resources wisely To protect and improve the world around me To show respect for myself and others through my words and actions.

1970s1970sIn 1975, Gloria D. Scott became the first African-American National Girl Scout PresidentIn response to the growing environmental awareness, an program called Eco-Action was bornThe win in 1973 by Billie Jean King in “The Battle of the Sexes” created more feminist feeling- maybe men weren’t really better than women at allAnna Mae McCabe Hays becomes the first woman general in the U.S. Army

Shortly before this, women were in their own separate unitGirl Scouts taught girls many things needed in the military- there were numerous Girl Scouts-gone-soldiers

The informational pamphlet Tune In to Well-Being, Say No to Drugs was first published in 1985

This was part of the “Say No To Drugs” campaign led by First Lady Nancy Reagan

In response to the growing threat of the AIDS epidemic

As the US reached out to other countries, Girl Scouts did too

In New York, the Edith Macy International Center opened

It would later serve as a meeting place for Girl Scouts of all countries, and a place where customs could be shared

1980s1980s

Two informational pamphlets

1980s1980sIn 1986, the spacecraft Challenger exploded, killing all seven astronauts, including school teacher and former Girl Scout, Sharon Christa McAuliffe.

Sandra Day O'Connor, also a Girl Scout alumna, became the first female Supreme Court Justice.

Christa McAuliffe

The explosion of Challenger

7

Sandra Day O’Connor

1990s1990sNearly four million Girl Scouts, girls and adult leaders, tackled illiteracy alongside First Lady Barbara Bush in the Right to Read service project

Girls came from being almost totally illiterate to helping others who were- how they had progress from their beginnings in 1912

Girl Scouts began a health and fitness national service project, Be Your Best, to promote different ways of being healthy, keeping fit, and eating right

This came along with the new food pyramid, which happened to be drastically different from the previous ones

The Girl Scout LawThe Girl Scout Law

The part “courageous and strong” was newIt reflected the new idea of what a woman should be, or rather, what she did not have to be

Women now had a say in their own lives

1992I will do my best to behonest and fair,friendly and helpful,considerate and caring,courageous and strong, andresponsible for what I say and do,and torespect myself and others,respect authority,use resources wisely,make the world a better place,and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

September 11September 11thth, 2001, 2001After the tragic events of 9/11, Girl Scouts everywhere banded together to help

In NY, hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies were sent to the volunteers working at Ground Zero

Thousands of women (some former Girl Scouts) joined the military to fight al Qaeda

60 years ago, women fought in separate units, most of which never saw actual combat

No event since Vietnam had the general public been this involved in a national crisis

They performed community services, hosted remembrance ceremonies, and wrote thank-you letters to rescuers

9-11-01 Girl Scout Patch (not earned, just to show

support)

Afghanistan and IraqAfghanistan and IraqOne soldiers actually began going over to Afghanistan and Iraq, Girl Scouts started collecting food, clothing, and money to send to both the soldiers and the natives

When asked by President Bush, almost every Girl Scout donated $1 to the children of AfghanistanThere continues to be a drive with every cookie sale that sends cases over to the soldiers

In March 2004, Girl and Boy Scouts were founded in Iraq

A Brownie high-fivesa soldier while

delivering cookies to be shipped overseas

to the troops

Modern Girl ScoutsModern Girl ScoutsMembership in GSUSA went from 18 girls in 1912 to 3.3 million in 2007Currently, wearing uniforms is not demanded for every meeting as it was in the beginning

Not many girls wear the white gloves and skirtThere are over ten different kinds of cookies sold each yearGirl Scouts has become one of the most influential and well-known organizations in the world

They have continued to give girls the opportunity to change the world around them

Girl Scouts are extremely valuableBy earning different awards, they are also helping their community

THE ENDTHE END

Extra InfoExtra Info

Each of these awards tested the strength of character, as well as the motivation, of the girl earning itThe Gold Award includes 30 hours of leadership, Interest Project Patches, and several other time consuming prerequisitesThe project

Must have continuity, leadership, and community service, as well as being at least 65 hours

•Golden Eaglet of Merit, 1916 to 1919 (the first Girl Scout top award) •Golden Eaglet, 1919 to 1940

                                     

•Curved Bar Award, 1940 to 1963

                                              

•First Class award, 1963 to 1980

                              

•Girl Scout Gold Award®, 1980 to present

                 

The Highest The Highest AwardAward

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