A quick google of Cub badges and I found a Home Help badge that includes some similar activities to this Brownie badge. Interestingly one of the chores they can both choose to complete is cleaning; it still includes brass and silver so I have visions of cubs polishing brass door fittings and Brownies buffing up the silverware against a 1950s soundtrack. There's a level of modernity in Brownies now that I didn't experience but given the fact that in two weeks time Bea is flower arranging, things haven't changed that much.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this but as most cubs are boys (is this true or my misconception?) and Brownies are still predominantly, if not exclusively, girls, are the Scouting and Guiding associations leading us to think that girls still need to ensure they have the skills for domesticity whereas boys will only need to 'help' with these chores? No? The Cubs have a DIY badge...
Admittedly there are plenty of badges for interesting subjects like stargazing and my research into this is scant, so it's an impression not quite an opinion, but this aspect focused on the home feels old fashioned and outdated. Like I said, maybe I'm reading too much into this.
This is Bea's Home Skills badge which she earned by laying the table, washing dishes, tidying her bedroom and making her bed, for a week. With those skills, she's all set when she leaves home.
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