Juliette Gordon Low

Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low (1860-1927) was the founder of the Girl Scouts of America, which still is in existance today and has over 2.6 million members. Daisy was a strong believer that all girls have the ability and potential to be self-sufficient and have strength of character. After meeting with Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, Daisy was inspired to create the Girl Scouts of America - and to make the Girl Scouts accessible to girls of all backgrounds, races, and abilities.

## Life before Girl Scouting

On October 31st, 1860, Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born to her parents in their home in Savannah, Georgia. At birth, her uncle affectionately referred to her as "a little Daisy," and the name stuck. As one of six children, Daisy grew up playing outside with her siblings. She was said to be her happiest when she was outdoors, climbing trees and enjoying nature. These interests would fuel her passion for the Girl Scouts later in life.

Daisy's childhood was far from perfect, however. Her infancy and childhood was greatly affected by the Civil War. Her father left shortly after her birth to fight for the Confederacy, while her mother's family fought for the Union. This led to strife in her home and a sometimes unpleasant early childhood. Daisy's mother, Nellie, strongly believed in abolition, which led to her isolation from pro-secession neighbors. Eventually, following the defeat of the Confederacy, the malnourished and frail Daisy left Savannah with her siblings and mother to stay with her grandparents and distant cousin, General William Tecumseh Sherman in Illinios.

In 1865, Daisy's family was able to reunite in Savannah with newly revitalized finances. Daisy attended multiple boarding schools in Virginia and New York, where she excelled in the arts. After she finished her schooling, in 1886, Daisy married William Makay Low. Together, they took up residence in England. Their marriage started out well, but ended suddenly in 1905 when William died of a seizure while on a trip with his mistress, Miss Anna Bateman. A painful blow to Daisy occured when she learned that, shortly before his death, William had admended his will so that Bateman would inherit his fortune, not Daisy. After a legal appeal, Daisy was able to get a small yearly stipend. The majority of his fortune was still given to Bateman.

Because of her infertility, Daisy was left a childless widow without a purpose. She also struggled with depression. But, by pure chance, Daisy met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts. This led to her inspiration to start the Girl Scouts, giving her the purpose she yearned for in life.

Daisy passed away on January 17th, 1927 after a long and mostly private battle with breast cancer. She was buried in Savannah, Gerogia in her Girl Scout Uniform, and the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund was established in her honor.

## Creation of the Girl Scouts

After her husband's death, Daisy was left alone and directionless. She struggled to find a purpose in life, and spent much time traveling the world. She even confessed to her family her fears of living as an "idle woman of the world," However, in 1911, Daisy met (completely by chance) Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts. He revealed to her that thousands of girls had been yearning to join the Boy Scouts, but that there was too much public pressure to allow girls to join a boy's organization. Baden-Powell wanted to start a separate group for girls but believed that he couldn't run it on his own. Daisy, who believed she had just the aptitude for this, immediately volunteered to do it herself.

Daisy was ecstatic after hearing of this opportunity to change so many lives. She excitedly called her cousin and said, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!" In Britain, Daisy started the first "Girl Guide" troops. These troops were open to girls of all incomes, abilities, and heritages. After noticing the immediate success of the Girl Guides in Britain, Daisy decided to go back home to Savannah and bring this opportunity to the girls of the United States. On March 12, 1912, Daisy registered the first American Girl Guides troop. The first member was her niece and namesake, "Daisy Doots" Gordon. The organization was renamed "Girl Scouts" in 1912, and Daisy spent almost all of the rest of life working with Girl Scouts and raising money for the cause.

## Hearing Problems

Daisy's struggle with her hearing began in her childhood. When she was young, an untreated ear infection caused her to lose most of her hearing in one of her ears. In a tragically unusual case of bad luck, Daisy's wedding was ruined when a well-wisher's grain of celebratory rice became lodged inside the ear canal of her undamaged ear. After months of severe pain, Daisy finally had the rice surgically removed from her ear, but by then damage had already been done. This left Daisy's hearing severely damaged. Afterwards, she became particularly susceptible to ear infections, which eventually left her all but completely deaf.

This experience with deafness made Daisy especially concerned with the opportunities available to other people with disabilities. Because of this, Daisy made the Girl Scouts accessible not just to girls of all races and incomes, but also to girls of all levels of ability.

## Girl Scouts

Started in 1912, when women still didn't have the right to vote, the Girl Scouts of America encouraged girls to break the traditional molds that they had been put in since birth. Daisy took care to emphasize three values that were of importance to her: courage, confidence and character. With those in mind, she crafted a program that allowed girls to do things that were previously almost unheard of: playing sports, camping, hiking, studying foreign languages, and even charting stars.

The Girl Scouting program, which commemorates its members' successes with badges related to new skills, has continued to evolve since it began in 1912. Starting with only the original 18 members, there have now been over fifty million Girl Scouts in the United States. The Girl Scouts of America (GSA) has also placed an emphasis on service to others. As a result, Girl Scouts have helped others by collecting clothing and food during the Great Depression, sending "Kits for Korea" to soldiers during the Korean War, holding "Speak Out" conferences to support the fight for racial equality, helping initiatives that supported family planning, partnering with Google to encourage girls to pursue S.T.E.M, and performing countless other acts of service.

Troops are now organized by grade level. Daisies, named after their founder, are for girls in kindergarten and first grade. They participate in GSA mainly by learning about the outdoors through play, and also selling cookies. Brownies are girls in second and third grade who take "Leadership Journeys" and do a collaborative service project in their community. Juniors (fourth and fifth graders) earn their "Bronze Award" by choosing an issue they feel passionate about and finding a way to address it in their community. Cadettes (sixth - eighth graders) complete their "Silver Awards" and also help mentor younger Girl Scouts. Seniors (grades nine and ten) can engage more globally and explore future careers. Ambassador Girl Scouts (from eleventh grade through adulthood) can continue their career exploration and earn the "Gold Award."

The Gold Award is the highest badge given in Girl Scouting, and is the girls' equivalent of the Boy Scout Eagle Scout Award. Girls complete this extensive process through almost one hundred independent service hours. Gold Awards end with significant and sustainable community impact and the award requirements are as rigorous as those of the Eagle Scout Award. Girls who complete their Gold Awards embody Daisy's vision of girls who help their communities without limits, while proving they are capable of anything and everything.

Daisy's vision for girls is easily understood through the Girl Scout Law:

"I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout."

## Feminism and Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of America have begun progressively more feminist with the times. For example, Girl Scouts have embraced "sisters" of all backgrounds since the organization was formed. In the 1960's, Girl Scouts held "Speak Out" conferences, which argued for racial equality, and also launched the "ACTION 70" project to help bridge the gap between people of all races.

Today, the Girl Scouts support feminism of all kinds. As always, girls with disabilities are welcomed by all troops across the nation, and no matter a girl's socioeconomic background or cultural identity, she can always find a place in Girl Scouts as well. In 2011, the Girl Scouts of America allowed transgender girls to join troops as well. In fact, the Girl Scouts of America were offered a donation of $100,000 to stop the inclusion of transgender girls. The Girl Scouts refused. Later, when faced with criticism for their inclusivity, the GSA gave this statement: "If a girl is recognized by her family, school, and community as a girl, and lives culturally as a girl, Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe."

Additionally, the Girl Scouts actively motivate their members to respect and emulate strong feminist icons in their lives. For example, on International Women's Day of 2017, Girl Scouts were encouraged to dress as their favorite strong women. Many girls dressed as Hillary Clinton, Mae Jemison, Celia Cruz, Amelia Earhart, Whoopi Goldberg, Lucille Ball, Juliette Gordon Low, and Condoleezza Rice.

## Sources

“Juliette Gordon Low - Girl Scouts.” *Girl Scouts of the USA*, www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-history/juliette-gordon-low.html.

“About Daisy.” *Learn | About Daisy | Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace*, www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/en/learn/about-daisy.html.

“Juliette Gordon Low.” *Biography.com*, A&E Networks Television, 4 Nov. 2016, www.biography.com/people/juliette-gordon-low-20766743.

“Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927).” *New Georgia Encyclopedia*, www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/juliette-gordon-low-1860-1927.

Kleiber, Shannon Henry. “Juliette Gordon Low, Who Had No Children of Her Own, Started Girl Scouts in 1912.” *The Washington Post*, WP Company, 9 Mar. 2012, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidpost/juliette-gordon-low-who-had-no-children-of-her-own-started-girl-scouts-in-1912/2012/02/28/gIQA5CBO1R\_story.html?utm\_term=.6b5a4504d6c9.

“Low, Juliette Gordon.” *National Women's Hall of Fame*, www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/juliette-gordon-low/.

“Girl Scouts - Official Web Site.” *Girl Scouts of the USA*, www.girlscouts.org/.

MarcieBianco. “The Girl Scouts Are Making History for All the Trans Little Girls of America.” *Mic*, Mic Network Inc., 16 Oct. 2015, mic.com/articles/118906/the-girl-scouts-new-trans-inclusive-policy-proves-its-most-feminist-move-yet#.K9GWpXgCl.

Brabaw, Kasandra, et al. “Adorable AF Girl Scouts Dressed As Feminist Heroes For International Women's Day.” *Girl Scouts Feminist Icons Womens History Month*, www.refinery29.com/2017/03/144595/girl-scouts-feminist-icons-international-womens-day.

Sunni JohnsonApril 3, 2017 2:03 pm. “How Girl Scouts Introduced Me to Feminism and Shaped My Grrrlhood.” *HelloGiggles*, 3 Apr. 2017, hellogiggles.com/lifestyle/girl-scouts-feminism-grrrlhood/.

## Note

In this Wiki, I refer to Juliette Gordon Low simply as "Daisy" because Daisy preferred to be called by her nickname, as she felt she was a sister to every Girl Scout and all the world.