Scouts and Guides’ Experience of Coeducation to Prevent Violence and Build Positive Gender

The aim of this article is to deal with the issue of coeducation in the scouting experience, proposed by Agesci (Catholic Scouts and Guides Association of Italy), founded in 1974 through the merger of the male and female associations. Co-education is not a simple coexistence of the two sexes under the banner of promiscuity. In Agesci, the intuition behind the choice of coeducation stems from the conviction that it is possible for boys and girls to grow together, to live together an educational project beyon d any pre-established roles. The educational aim is to help them mature in their relationship with themselves and others through the Scout method. In this way, Agesci proposes to combat gender-based violence with an educational proposal that offers the opportunity to experience mutual recognition of the richness of diversity and to build positive relationships between men and women. Agesci has opted for diarchy, which means that at all levels of the association, the sharing of tasks and educational responsibilities is entrusted to men and women together, with equal dignity and responsibility. For the boys and girls, this is a tangible testimony of how men and women can work together.