Pink is a colour that’s associated with tenderness, charm, politeness, sensitivity, and childhood. It’s also strongly regarded as a feminine colour but this has not always been the case.
In the 19th century, pink was first strongly associated with gender, the male gender. During this era, pink was in fact perceived as a ‘lightish red’. Red was regarded as a strong masculine colour, worn in uniforms by men. Therefore, pink was a ‘watered down’ version of red that was suitable for young boys. A commonly quoted line from the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department from June 1918 says:
“The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger colour, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
It gradually started to change, however, in the mid-20th Century and eventually by about 1950 when a huge advertising campaign by several advertising agencies pushing pink as an exclusively feminine colour came about. That wind of change swept around the world and led to today’s cultural belief that pink is a girly colour. But today more and more are challenging the status quo, led by men style revolutionaries and influencers, pink is making a gradual comeback. Want to be a part of this movement? Here’s how: