Girls' Youth Group Uniforms: Organizations--Girl Guides

Figure 1.--Here we have an Englisg Bronie. The photigraph is undated, but we would guess in the late 1970s. ThevBrownies were the junior unit of the Girl Guides. It was comparable to the Cun Scouts but for girls.

Following the creation of the Boys' Brigade and Boy Scouts, several uniformed youth organizations were founded for girls. The first was the Girl Guides in England. There was some resistance to girls activities outside the home, especially boyish activities. Thus the organizers decided on a different name. Guides were subsequently founded in many other countries. We notice a Greek Guide in Alexandria, Egypt. The Girl Scouts in America were essentially the Guides with a different name. American organizees and girls preferred the name "scout". The junior division of the Guides were the Brownies. The Brownie uniforms was a brown all in one skirt and top with a yellow thin belt and white knee socks and black strap shoes (figure 1). A reader writes, "I recall my Brownie uniform. It had a a brown short skirt and white lacy knee socks. We were like Cub Scouts but for us girls. My friends and I use to go and being the 70s when short skirts were stylish, we pulled the skirt through the belt thus making the skirt very short, not uncommon for girls doing that today. The Guides had a completely different uniform with a blue shirt. The English Guides were closely associated with the Scouts. The same was true with several other groups.

History

Following the creation of the Boys' Brigade and Boy Scouts, several uniformed youth organizations were founded for girls. The first was the Girl Guides in England. Sir Robert Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts in England (1908). It was an off shoot of the Boys' Brugade. Girls showed up at a Boy Scout rally wanting to participate (1909). They had to be turned away. Sir Robert saw that girls needed their own movement. He and his sister, Agnes, founded the Girl Guide movement (1912). There was some resistance to girls activities outside the home, especially boyish activities. It was consudered un-lady like. There were also concerns over security. Girls were seen as needing greater care than boys. Thus the organizers decided on a different name for the girll's movement--the Guides. Sir Robert's wife, Olave, became the United Kingdom's Chief Guide (1918).

Countries

Guides after being founded in England were subsequently organized in many other countries. Guide organizations were founded all over the world.We notice a Greek Guide in Alexandria, Egypt. The Girl Scouts in America were essentially the Guides with a different name. American organizees and girls preferred the name "scout". Even so, the organization and program was completely different.

Levels

The junior division of the Guides were the Brownies. These basic names and divisions were generally adopted as the Guides spread around the world. Even in Anerica where the name Scout was addopted, Brownies were chosen for the junior division. Huides and Brownies were the two major levels. Some countries with large movements such as the Uninted States have developed more elaborate levels. They currently incluse: Daisey Girls, Briwnies, Junior, and Casertte Senior Girl Scouts.

Activities

Uniforms

Guide uniforms sround the world at first were similar to the English Guide uniforms, but gradually became more diversified. The uniforms of the two basic levels were made different to differentiate the younger and older girls. The Brownie uniforms was a brown all in one skirt and top with a yellow thin belt and white knee socks and black strap shoes (figure 1). An English reader writes, "I recall my Brownie uniform. It had a a brown short skirt and white lacy knee socks. We were like Cub Scouts but for us girls. My friends and I use to go and being the 70s when short skirts were stylish, we pulled the skirt through the belt thus making the skirt very short, not uncommon for girls doing that today. The Guides had a completely different uniform with a blue shirt." Some national assiciations have created other levels of guiding, often with additional destinctive uniforms. Unlike the basic Guide and Brownie leveksm this varies a great deal from country bto country. The uniforms like those of the Boy Scouts not only vary anong countries, but have changed over time. This is entirely up to each national Guide assiciation. Quite a range of different garments have been used for Guide uniforms.

Relations

Relations with other youth groups varied. This depens on the country and orhanization. The English Guides were closely associated with the Scouts. The same was true with several other groups. The Girl Scouts in America had were much less associated with the Boy Scouts. In many countries the these Guides and Scouts have joined to create coed youth groups.

World Association

A World Guide Association was organized and the movement spread to other countries. Sir Robert Baden-Powell's wife, Olave, helped organized an International Council for the Guides. This became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (1928). The association is still called the World Association of Gurl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The Association reports in 2009 that the movements reaches 10 million girls and young women in 145 different countries around the world. This includes the American Girl Scouts. WAGGGS describes itself as "not only unites all of its member organizations, but also promotes and establishes Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting organizations around the world. The goal of WAGGGS is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world." The Headquartered at the World Bureau is lovated n London. WAGGGS also operates four regional world centers: England, India, Mexico and Switzerland.