# Pink: why is it such a bad color for males? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480 "2013-06-20T16:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/41 "2013-06-21T03:09:08Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I can not tell you how much it aggravates me that to market something to women, they slap pink on it somewhere. [/RO] Shrink it and pink it, that’s the ‘formula for appealing to women’. B/c we’re all dainty and shit. Don’t you worry about that OtterBox, slap some Hello Kitty stickers on it and no one will notice the color. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/42 "2013-06-21T03:12:06Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Don’t be ashamed…show that pink box to everybody! But don’t you _dare_ even _think_ to ask for pics! @ **kayaker** : Just change your name to Sue. That, plus a pink Otter Box or whatever, will help to make you strong! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/43 "2013-06-21T03:15:50Z")
[My pink box.](http://www.otterbox.com/Galaxy-S4-Defender-Series-Case/sam2-galaxy-s4,default,pd.html?dwvar_color=2C) ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/44 "2013-06-21T03:24:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [My pink box.](http://www.otterbox.com/Galaxy-S4-Defender-Series-Case/sam2-galaxy-s4,default,pd.html?dwvar_color=2C) For $50 that pink box had better be ‘full release’. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/45 "2013-06-21T03:30:10Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > For $50 that pink box had better be ‘full release’. You can get my box wet. Goodnight. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/46 "2013-06-21T03:50:33Z")
It’s a non-sex-specific color in Thailand. In fact, it’s the color of anyone, such as myself, who was born on a Tuesday. (Each day of the week has its own color.) That’s why the school color of Chulalongkorn University is pink, because King Chulalongkorn, for whom the school was named, was born on a Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/47 "2013-06-21T05:10:00Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Pink is not an unusual color for men’s dress shirts. Looks sharp with a burgundy tie. Burgundy’s fine if it’s a pale pink. If it’s a stronger pink, pair it up with a black suit and a black tie. (Male, straight, only white and black business shirts but I do have a pink tie and a couple of pink t-shirts - only one of which has a Hart Foundation logo on it). ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/48 "2013-06-21T06:29:47Z")
> [@Stana\_Claus](#): > > My Dad always said if you were man enough, you could wear whatever the hell you wanted… Hell yeah. In fact, you have a massively powerful personality detector in your pocket. People who are secure in themselves and don’t really care about your sexuality one way or the other won’t mention it. Everyone else will. (Why yes, I do own a pink sweat suit 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/49 "2013-06-21T07:33:58Z")
> [@Stana\_Claus](#): > > My Dad always said if you were man enough, you could wear whatever the hell you wanted and the Devil take anyone that said otherwise. This. And if you’re man enough, you even eat quiche. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/50 "2013-06-21T07:53:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [My pink box.](http://www.otterbox.com/Galaxy-S4-Defender-Series-Case/sam2-galaxy-s4,default,pd.html?dwvar_color=2C) I can’t take Otterbox seriously when their iPhone cases have a hole FOR THE APPLE LOGO. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/51 "2013-06-21T07:56:47Z")
> [@Stana\_Claus](#): > > My Dad always said if you were man enough, you could wear whatever the hell you wanted and the Devil take anyone that said otherwise. Side note; when I met Ken Shamrock years ago, he was driving a 1957 pink Cadillac. I assume that anyone who knew who he was knew better than to make any snide comments about it, and anyone who didn’t know would find out the hard way soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/52 "2013-06-21T10:32:16Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I can’t take Otterbox seriously when their iPhone cases have a hole FOR THE APPLE LOGO. Yep, agree that is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/53 "2013-06-21T12:20:46Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This. And if you’re man enough, you even eat quiche. I never understood that thing about quiche. It’s a pie. A bacon and egg pie. With cheese. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/54 "2013-06-21T12:29:54Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > I never understood that thing about quiche. It’s a pie. A bacon and egg pie. With cheese. I think it’s the word itself and how it sounds when you say it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/55 "2013-06-21T12:38:23Z")
From the article: “The more you individualize clothing, the more you can sell,” Paoletti says. There’s your answer in a nutshell. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/56 "2013-06-21T12:46:50Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > I never understood that thing about quiche. It’s a pie. A bacon and egg pie. With cheese. Come to think of it, I make a leek & swisschard tart and “tart” sounds kinda “quiche-y”. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/57 "2013-06-21T13:10:14Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > I never understood that thing about quiche. It’s a pie. A bacon and egg pie. With cheese. Bacon and eggs with cheese – very manly. Turning your your bacon, eggs, and cheese into a delicate French pastry – not manly. It’s like painting your rottweiler’s toenails or covering your mancave with throw pillows or using doilies on your workbench – not manly. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/58 "2013-06-21T13:12:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Come to think of it, I make a leek & swisschard tart and “tart” sounds kinda “quiche-y”. Take off your skirt you quiche eating tart and we’ll let you join the rest of the straight male population when/if you replace that pink phone case with a black one. Until you do (and post proof) in my head I’m calling you Kate. And ferchrissake stop saying “otterbox”. It’s a goddamn phone case! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/59 "2013-06-21T13:25:17Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I just replaced my old Droid-X with a new Samsung Galaxy S4. Being a lazy bastard, I made the purchase online. A few days later I get the phone as well as the OtterBox (love their products). I had ordered a black OtterBox, and I received a pink OtterBox. > > I looked through the accompanying paperwork (which correctly listed “black OtterBox”) and prepared to do an exchange through the mail. But, being a lazy bastard, I decided to just accept the pink. It’s just a color, right? Excellent visibility, right? > > Wrong. I’ve gotten shit from everyone who sees it, even my gf. > > So, what’s the deal here?😕 True story - I got a pink Otterbox Defender for my iPhone 5 last Fall, and received a LOT of shit at work from it - because I was still presenting as a boy. Co-workers, clients, random people I met would furrow their brows and declare “a **pink** iPhone? Really? _Really???_” Men and women would make a point about it. One time, at the start of an internal meeting, one of my assistants made a crack about my phone, and I finally lost my cool and mildly dressed them down about paying attention to the job and not about people’s phones. This continued on for some time, until I came out as a transwoman, and transitioned to female. Suddenly…my phone is “cute.” Other women see my phone and say “oh, that’s a pretty color!” And men are completely silent on the color, and if they notice the case at all, it’s just to say “oh, where can I get a heavy-duty case like that?” Female privilege - the right to have or wear any color you damn well want to, as long as it coordinates. There is no color a woman can wear that will lead people to speculate that she’s a muff-diving lesbian (plaid being a possible exception, but you also have to have other qualifiers, such as a Subaru, a Labrador with a bandana around its neck, a fondness for Heineken, etc.) But men…I’ve seen men teased to despair at work over being “ghey” for wearing pink, powder blue, green, or even dove grey. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480/60 "2013-06-21T13:58:10Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > True story - I got a pink Otterbox Defender for my iPhone 5 last Fall, and received a LOT of shit at work from it - because I was still presenting as a boy. Well _that_ makes me feel a whole lot better!!!😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-why-is-it-such-a-bad-color-for-males/661480.md?page=4)