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Society and Culture
Down With Girl Scout Cookies: Did you Join the Cookiecott?
Welcome to 2016! We are living in a world where Donald Trump is running for president (and doing surprisingly well), mermaid tails are readily available on the internet, oh, and Girl Scout cookies are being actively boycotted by pro-life groups. Because, really, there’s nothing more evil in this world than a delicious box of Thin Mints or your adorable next-door neighbor, Susie the Girl Scout, trying to sell you cookies.
The movement against these cookies, dubbed a “cookiecott” when it began last year, was started because pro-life groups are upset by supposed recent ties between the Girl Scouts of the USA and pro-choice advocates. As the cookie season has kicked into full swing this year, so have the protesters. On their website, the cookiecotters specifically point out that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) “aggressively promotes youth reproductive/abortion and sexual rights.” I don’t know about you all, but I fondly remember my own days as a Girl Scout, where my troop leaders reminded me daily about my right to an abortion as an eight-year-old troop member.
The group also cites several organizations that the Girl Scouts have relationships with as serious concerns; the Coalition for Adolescent Girls is one of those “troubling” partnerships. I’m having a really hard time seeing the problem with (to quote the mission statement on the front page of the organization’s website) “a member-led and driven organization dedicated to supporting, investing in, and improving the lives of adolescent girls.” You’ve got me, cookiecott supporters. How DARE the Girl Scouts of America promote the improvement of the lives of young women!
Leaders of the anti-cookie movement also claim that the Girl Scouts have a historical relationship with Planned Parenthood, but there is little to no evidence that this relationship actually exists. In fact, on the website for the Girl Scouts of the USA there is a direct statement in the FAQ’s that the organization does not have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood. Honestly, even if there was any evidence that the Girl Scouts of the USA did partner with Planed Parenthood–which, other than rumors and right-wing gossip, there’s not–are we really back on the anti-women’s health organization bandwagon? I had really hoped we ended this debate months ago when we talked about all the services Planned Parenthood provides for young women on a daily basis. If anything, the Girl Scouts should be commended if they promote organizations that support women’s rights and provide affordable health services to women all over the country who need them.
In case you still haven’t been convinced by their argument yet, I’ve got a treat for you. Please sit through this excruciating six minute and 14 second video of a mind-numbingly boring midwestern mom explaining exactly why you can’t trust the Girl Scouts or their cookies. Trust me, it’s worth it.
To a certain extent, their arguments almost make sense. The Girl Scouts are tangentially connected to some groups who also happen to be connected to the pro-choice movement, just like the tweet below suggests.
#cookiecott pic.twitter.com/3jczmQBIwZ
— Devon Hensley (@DevonB324) February 13, 2016
Yes, the group has held events with speakers like Hillary Clinton and Betty Friedan, who are known for their feminist ideas and support of pro-choice policies. Yes, it may have ties to organizations with pro-choice beliefs. But, what I fundamentally do not understand about this whole argument is the fact that the organization has in no way taken a pro-choice stand on abortion, or any stand, for that matter. I don’t know where these cookie haters are getting their information, or how they have the self control to say no to Girl Scout cookies, but I think the whole thing is a little ridiculous. Girl Scout cookies are pretty much the most positive thing I can think of–they even made an appearance at the Oscars last night! So, let’s stop this cookiecott nonsense and get back to supporting an organization that motivates and supports girls and young women nationwide.
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