# Pink is for girls - a new take? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946 "2013-12-22T12:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/21 "2013-12-26T15:16:21Z")
> [@Spaghettifrier](#): > > Maybe it just happened, or maybe people are inherently more inclined to associate pink with femininity, because of vaginas. You’d have to account for the fact that it was exactly the opposite 100 years ago in our culture. What, did the inherent nature of gender/color associations just swap like the reversal of the magnetic poles? And what about other cultures where different (or no) colors are associated with genders? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/22 "2013-12-26T16:45:07Z")
> [@Spaghettifrier](#): > > Yes, this is pure bs that is impossible to prove. It’s funny though, and plausible. I think it’s important not to think this way. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/23 "2013-12-26T17:09:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Kind of like the unfairness of how girls can wear skirts AND pants, but boys can only wear pants? I have been wearing Utilikilts almost exclusively for many years now, and I have to say, that rule is plain wrong. Men should have ventilation. Men, and the rest of the world, should not have to worry about men’s flies being down. But I guess I have just let all the guys with hang-ups put their pants on, one leg at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/24 "2013-12-26T18:03:19Z")
I certainly wouldn’t wear pink. I fancy myself an autumn. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/25 "2013-12-26T19:16:06Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I certainly wouldn’t wear pink. I fancy myself an autumn. Light colors only between Easter and Labor Day? ---
**Author:** ![Spaghettifrier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@Spaghettifrier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spaghettifrier)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/26 "2013-12-27T06:18:17Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I think it’s important not to think this way. you mean, it’s important to have absolutely no sense of humor and to interpret everything as a statement of 100% absolute truth, rather than just an interesting and plsuible idea? You know, I never stated that that was the FOR SURE reason. It would be impossible to prove, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/27 "2013-12-27T13:22:07Z")
It’s true you didn’t say that your theory is definitively proven. In fact, you called it “pure bs that’s impossible to prove.” I guess I just don’t see why someone would offer a hypothesis that is pure bs, that’s impossible to prove, simply on the basis that it’s funny. As a joke, of course I can see someone doing it–but on re-reading your posts in this thread, it doesn’t really look like you’re joking. You’re actively arguing for the hypothesis. It seems like a bad way to do things, to be honest. It’s not conducive to discovering truths, for example. So what _is_ it conducive too? What I’m afraid of is that it is conducive to telling people, unfairly, how they should be feeling and thinking (because after all “it’s only natural.”) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/28 "2013-12-27T15:54:36Z")
> [@Spaghettifrier](#): > > You know, I never stated that that was the FOR SURE reason. It would be impossible to prove, anyhow. If you read some of the other posts in the thread, you’ll see it is definitely not the reason. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/29 "2013-12-27T17:20:24Z")
I read an article several years ago (sorry, no cite) about the switch from pink for boys and blue for girls. Many scholars attribute the change to the popularity of the two paintings Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough and Pinkie by Thomas Lawrence, which are often seen side by side. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/30 "2013-12-27T17:24:36Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Kind of like the unfairness of how girls can wear skirts AND pants, but boys can only wear pants? Yes. Males are treated unfairly. :mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![Spaghettifrier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@Spaghettifrier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spaghettifrier)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/31 "2013-12-27T19:32:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > If you read some of the other posts in the thread, you’ll see it is definitely not the reason. I did read the posts. There doesn’t have to be only one reason. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/32 "2013-12-27T19:40:24Z")
> [@Spaghettifrier](#): > > I did read the posts. There doesn’t have to be only one reason. Pink was not always associated with girls. Therefore its modern-day association with girls has nothing to do with vaginas. The end. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/33 "2013-12-28T17:52:16Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Light colors only between Easter and Labor Day? Light colors should be worn year round. I like light/bright colors. Fudge fashion rules. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/34 "2013-12-28T18:13:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Kind of like the unfairness of how girls can wear skirts AND pants, but boys can only wear pants? If brony culture continues to grow and becomes truly mainstream, I wouldn’t be surprised if the next generation of boys grows up with pink skirts being normal for boys. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/35 "2013-12-28T18:24:58Z")
Back in the 1990’s, my wife bought me a new business wardrobe, among which were two very well constructed LIGHT RED shirts. They looked quite good with a charcoal jacket and slacks. The striped black and red tie (Go Dogs) went well with it, and I liked wearing them when I needed to impress a client or something like that. But, they weren’t pink. OK? Light Red. Got it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/36 "2013-12-28T19:49:35Z")
A couple of years ago I discovered I look good in pink. It takes a little effort for me to ignore the socialization stuff and wear it, but it does work with my coloring. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/37 "2013-12-29T01:03:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > A couple of years ago I discovered I look good in pink. It takes a little effort for me to ignore the socialization stuff and wear it, but it does work with my coloring. I hope you wore it in Thailand. No one would have thought twice about it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/38 "2013-12-29T01:06:48Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I hope you wore it in Thailand. No one would have thought twice about it. It was way too hot and humid for dress shirts when I was there. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/39 "2013-12-29T01:08:47Z")
> [@Spaghettifrier](#): > > Maybe it just happened, or maybe people are inherently more inclined to associate pink with femininity, because of vaginas. Out of curiosity, have you ever seen male genitalia? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946/40 "2013-12-29T01:36:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It was way too hot and humid for dress shirts when I was there. Hmmm. I’m starting to get the impression I should leave my pink T-shirts behind the next time I visit certain parts of Brooklyn or The Bronx. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-is-for-girls-a-new-take/676946.md?page=3)