Jiana Rush
Staff Reporter
Pink; of a color intermediate between red and white, as of coral or salmon.
The color pink has been defined throughout recent history as a “girly” or “dainty” color. However, this was not always the case. The color became gender-specific in the 20th century when clothing stores recommended blue and pink as “sex-appropriate” colors. While pink is now associated with femininity, pink was the popular color for boys due to it being a “stronger” color. Blue was viewed as the more delicate color and was the suitable choice for girls.
This changed in the early 1900’s when baby boys were being dressed in blue and baby girls were being dressed in pink. This is also when babies started being dressed to look like small adults. Dresses that were common wear for babies due to easy diaper access, were now a thing of the past. It was not until the 1960’s and 1970’s that people were dressing their children in neutral colors in respect to the women’s liberation movement. Since pink is the more “feminine” color it was seen as a stereotype and a limitation to the success of young women and girls. In the 1980’s, gender-specific clothing picked back up which made it easy to tell the sex of your newborn baby.
Before pink became a gender-specific color, it was notable for being a luxurious color that those of class, both male and female, would wear. It was often used in art as a symbol of innocence and purity. Along with it being a symbol of innocence, studies have shown that pink is a calming color and has even reduced stress and other negative feelings. The shade “drunk tank pink” had been used at times to paint prison cells when the calming nature of the color was discovered.
In the 21st century, pink has held a more gender-neutral position rather than the gender-specific role it held in the past. It is still seen as a feminine color evidently from the packaging on toys to shampoo and conditioner bottles. However, as more people are incorporating the color into their wardrobe, pink is coming back as a strong color for everyone!
Image Credit Wix.com
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