Pink has become widely recognized as a “girl” color, especially in Western cultures. But why is this the case? When and how did pink become associated specifically with femininity and girlhood? Here is an exploration of the history and evolution of pink as a gendered color.
The Origins of Pink as a Gendered Color
The association of pink with girls is a relatively modern phenomenon and has changed over time. Prior to the early 20th century, the color pink was actually more closely associated with boys. Blue was the preferred color for girls.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a transition towards pink becoming a feminine color and blue a masculine one. But even then, the gender association was not as rigid as it later became. It was more common at that time for young boys to wear pink.
Experts point to multiple factors that contributed to the shift towards pink as a girl’s color:
- The marketing and products of children’s clothing manufacturers in the early 20th century, who began assigning and promoting certain colors for boys and girls.
- The popularity of pastel colors in women’s fashion in the 1920s and 1930s.
- The influence of childhood development experts like John Watson who recommended pink for girls and blue for boys in the 1940s.
By the 1950s, pink was strongly established as a feminine color in the United States and this association strengthened over the following decades.
Pink Reinforces Gender Stereotypes
Part of the reason pink has been so heavily associated with girls and women is because the characteristics culturally linked to the color are similar to feminine gender stereotypes. Pink is considered a soft, delicate, and nurturing color.
Some key associations linked to the color pink:
- Gentleness
- Romance
- Caring
- Sweetness
- Innocence
These associations reinforce traditional notions of femininity. Girls and women are expected to embody these soft, nurturing qualities. So the color pink, with its similar connotations, has come to represent girlhood.
The Pink Aisle: Marketing to Girls
Walk down the toy aisle at any department store and you’ll immediately notice how prominent pink is in the “girls” section. Dolls, toy ovens, play makeup, and so many other “girl” toys come in shades of pink.
The same goes for the girls’ clothing section. Pink dresses, skirts, frilly socks, and hair accessories abound. Much of girls’ merchandise and marketing is heavily pink-themed.
Retailers and marketers catch on to cultural associations like the link between pink and girls. The prominent use of pink then further cements the color association for the next generation.
The Pink Tax
Pink products for women and girls sometimes come with a real monetary premium, known as the pink tax. Gendered pricing means feminine-coded products like razors and shampoo in pink packaging are priced higher than similar male counterparts.
While the price gaps have narrowed in recent years, the pink tax persists. Critics argue it stems from gender-based price discrimination.
The prevalence of the color pink in products for girls and women contributes to the perception that these items deserve a premium price.
Pink in Pop Culture
Popular media like movies, TV shows, and ad campaigns reinforce pink as a girl’s color through recurring themes and imagery. Here are some examples:
- The popular Legally Blonde films featured the main character, Elle Woods, with her signature all-pink outfits.
- Cartoon characters associated with girls like Hello Kitty and My Little Pony prominently feature pink.
- In the iconic Mean Girls movie, the antagonistic “Plastics” clique wear pink clothing as their uniform.
- Pink themes are common in ads marketing directly to women, like pink yogurt packaging or pink razors.
The pervasiveness of pink imagery trains us to associate the color with all things feminine from a young age.
The Impact on Children
Heavy gender coding of children’s products shapes kids’ perceptions and identities. The division of blue for boys and pink for girls promotes rigid gender roles.
Studies show that when children were randomly assigned to play with gender-neutral black or pink toys, they expressed less interest in playing with the toys supposedly mismatched to their gender. The power of color associations starts young.
However, the effects seem more impactful on boys who tend to react more negatively to being given pink toys. This shows how pink is especially denigrated as feminine and unsuitable for boys.
Backlash Against Pink
In recent years, there has been growing backlash against the gendering of colors like pink as social norms have continued to evolve. More parents are consciously working to avoid rigid color-coding in their children’s lives.
And many campaigns and companies have popped up offering less gendered options:
- Some brands like Boy Wonder now make toys and home goods for kids using a wide spectrum of colors, not just blue and pink.
- There are children’s clothing lines like Princess Awesome that make colorful dresses and clothing for both boys and girls.
- The Let Toys Be Toys campaign has advocated for removing gender divisions from toy marketing in retail stores.
While pink remains culturally tied to girls, the association has softened over time, with more acceptance for boys to enjoy pink as well.
Pink and Feminism
Feminist perspectives on the color pink are varied. Some feminists argue rigid color binaries ultimately hurt girls’ self-expression and reinforce narrow visions of femininity.
But others note that just because pink is feminine doesn’t inherently make it disempowering to women. Rather, pink can be reclaimed as an assertive expression of femininity.
This debate represents the complexity in how cultural associations shape the meanings we assign to colors.
Pink Power and Female Empowerment
While critics argue that pink perpetuates traditional femininity, the color has also been reclaimed as a symbol of female strength. Call it “pink power.”
In recent decades, pink has become commonly used when promoting breast cancer awareness, women’s marches, and events like International Women’s Day.
Some see the embrace of pink as a way to positively assert womanhood in the face of continued gender biases. Others remain skeptical, seeing pink-washing as superficial.
Pink in LGBTQ+ Pride
Pink holds significance in LGBTQ+ communities as well. Pink and orange were established as symbols of sexual freedom in the 1970s. These bright colors represented an alternative to gendered blue and pink.
But pink in particular became closely associated with gay men. Later the pink triangle symbol emerged to honor gay victims of the Holocaust.
Over time, pink has become a color of solidarity and pride for LGBTQ+ rights movements. Still, there are disagreements on how heavily gendered colors like pink ought to define queer identity.
Pink Beyond Binaries
In many ways, the story of pink reveals how amorphous and socially constructed gender and color associations can be. It shows progress in breaking down rigid binaries, but also persistent gaps.
While pink remains culturally tied to girls and femininity, one hopeful shift is the growing acceptance that colors do not have to dictate or limit identity and expression.
Perhaps someday pink will be seen simply as a vibrant and attractive color that anyone can enjoy, regardless of gender.
Conclusion
Pink’s link to femininity and girlhood is a relatively modern phenomenon shaped by marketing trends, gender stereotypes, and evolving social norms. While the gendering of pink reinforces certain biases, pink has also been reclaimed to represent female empowerment and LGBTQ+ pride.
The history of pink reveals how cultural associations with colors can shift over time. There are signs of progress in breaking down rigid color and gender binaries. But work remains in allowing all children the freedom to express themselves fully beyond the constraints of pink and blue.