Boy, I have to laugh just a little bit about this thread:
"Yeah, men are about 300% more likely to molest children than women but that doesn't mean men should be treated any differently than women around children! We are being discriminated against!!!"You guys, with the exception of Stand_watie, sound so, well, P.C.!
Its just funny because I picture many of you as people who would be outraged if the TSA pulled a little old lady out of line at an airport for an extra security check and let young Arab guys through.
But before everyone flames me, let me say that I agree with you that it is not the best policy for the Girl Scouts to be following. The Girls Scouts do eliminate a lot of risk through this policy and I havent ever heard anything about any molestation scandals with them, but this policy has too great of a negative impact. I agree that if they are going to have such a policy, the policy should be "two adults" at all times, not just when it comes to men.
Girls need to be taught to be discriminating about men, not to fear all men as potential rapists, murderers and child molesters. Are males more likely than females to molest children? Yes, about 80-90% of child molesters are male. Are all men just looking for an opportunity to molest children? Of course not!
We need to teach children practical skills to tell the wolves from the sheepdogs and to identify threats. Unfortunately, more and more children are growing up without fathers or other male role models and too many women are quick to instill fear and distrust of men in their children. Girls that are raised this way often wind up either dating/marrying a succession of creeps and then complain that all men are scum or, if they miraculously identify and marry a nice guy and then spend their lives making that guy miserable.
Instilling indiscriminate fear of all men could screw up these girls for life. Its much better to limit childrens risk through having more supervision and structuring activities in such a way that children cant be isolated and preyed upon. I sympathize with you guys who have to worry about the suspicions of others when all you want to do is help some kids. Nobody wants to have to walk on eggshells and worry about sexual abuse accusations. I hope that the Girl Scouts would consider changing their policy. Maybe then the girls in scouting would have the opportunity to interact with decent men and learn who the good guys are!