Book review: Girl Scout Handbook 1956

For the last couple of years, I’ve helped run a camping trip with the girl scout troops my older kids are in. One camp gave us a copy of a 1956 Girl Scout handbook. It’s partly an orientation to what scouting is about, partly a list of badge requirements, and partly practical information. Given that it was from an era where gender was especially polarized, I was surprised that the authorship of this book felt sensible and balanced to me. No mid-century book for girls would be complete without advice about posture and homemaking, but it’s light on “WIFE AND MOTHER!” content compared to most books of the era. Compared to modern materials, there’s a lot of emphasis on being a good citizen, cheerfulness, and getting along with others. It’s not about expressing your individuality. Some of the values are familiar, but framed differently. Environmentalism is presented as a form of patriotism. The book favors diversity and internationalism. There were racially integrated troops from the…