Girl Scouts warn parents about forcing hugs this holiday season
Girl Scouts USA is asking parents to not force their daughters into hugging relatives this holiday season.
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Sexual harassment and consent are in the news lately and the holidays are right around the corner. The Girl Scouts have released a recommendation to parents on how to handle affection this season. The reminder post on GSUSA’s website tells parents, “She doesn’t owe anyone a hug. Not even at the holidays.”
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The hugs of relatives who are wishing for big embraces and cheek pinches at holiday gatherings are of non-sexual nature but GSUSA believes this could influence unexpected emotional consequences.
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“Think of it this way, telling your child that she owes someone a hug either just because she hasn’t seen this person in a while or because they gave her a gift can set the stage for her questioning whether she ‘owes’ another person any type of physical affection when they’ve bought her dinner or done something else seemingly nice for her later in life,” the piece reads.
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Some have waved away GSUSA’s concerns on social media or accused them of blowing interactions with relatives out of proportion. Others, such as SafeNet, has pointed out that this has long been a very controversial topic within the parenting community.
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Robyn Young, director of domestic violence services, believes teaching children about consent early will help them in future situations.
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“By teaching our children when they’re young about consent, they will know about it by the time they are teens and older and they’ll understand it and understand that their body is their body and they don’t have to share it with anyone that they don’t want to,” Young said.
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According to CNN, one reader said, “I raised my children this way over 20 years ago. Why did we do this? Because I had been a victim of sexual abuse by a family ‘friend’ for many years as a child. I did not want my children to think they had to hug or touch others unless the contact was wanted.”
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Another reader did not understand the big deal. “You’re damn right you’re going to hug the woman who gave your mother/father life so you could have life,” they wrote.
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The Girl Scouts website states there are 2.6 million Girl Scouts, 1.8 million girl members, and 800,000 adult members.
“Give your girl the space to decide when and how she wants to show affection...Of course, this doesn’t give her license to be rude! There are many other ways to show appreciation, thankfulness, and love that don’t require physical contact,” the post reads.
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According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), one in nine girls under the age of 18 experiences sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult, a vast majority of whom are family members. RAINN states, about 90 percent of child sex abuse cases involve a parent or relative.