Young Men Research Initiative, here in Washington the CEO of a regional Girl Scouts organization participated as a speaker at an advocacy event put on by the Washington’s Women’s Commission. In her speech she said, “Girl Scouts considers ourselves to be advocates — fierce, unabashed champions of all things girls and gender expansive youth.”

It’s interesting to think what would happen if Scouting America and other large boys-serving organizations — with their big populations, and their dollars, and their clout — were to begin acting as “advocates — fierce, unabashed champions of all things boys”. What if they were to begin helping push for government commissions focused on boys and men’s issues?

We must recognize the inconsistency when girls-focused organizations are celebrated for advocating in the public and political areas for girls, but boys-focused organizations (to the extent they still exist) don’t do likewise for boys.

Let us recognize that boys & men and girls & women have overlapping issues but also some unique struggles, and so fierce advocacy for both the male and the female is appropriate.