Why are blue and pink the gender colors?
Pink and blue have become strongly associated with gender in modern times, but this gender coding of colors has not always been the case historically. The trend towards pink for girls and blue for boys became especially prominent in the 1940s and 1950s, but the origins of the association date back further to the early 20th century.
The history of pink and blue gender colors
In ancient times, color gender associations tended to be the opposite of what we see today. Blue was considered a feminine color, associated with the Virgin Mary. Pink was seen as a masculine color, akin to the red of a warrior’s tunic.
| Time Period | Gender Association |
|---|---|
| Ancient Times | Blue = Feminine, Pink = Masculine |
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, blue continued to be associated with girls because of its relation to the Virgin Mary, while pink was for boys as a “little red” or “baby red.” However, these color gender distinctions were not consistently followed or widely known among the general population.
| Time Period | Gender Association |
|---|---|
| Medieval and Renaissance Europe | Blue = Girls, Pink = Boys |
In the 18th century, babies of both genders typically wore white dresses. Starting in the 1920s, large department stores started suggesting color palettes for boys and girls, but pink and blue were not yet settled into their now-familiar roles. By the 1940s, the trend towards pink for girls and blue for boys solidified and became more universally adopted in the U.S. and parts of Europe.
| Time Period | Gender Association |
|---|---|
| 18th Century | Both genders wore white |
| 1920s-1940s | The modern pink/blue distinction emerged |
There are a few leading theories about why pink and blue settled into their current gender associations in the 20th century.
Theories on the pink-blue gender divide
The influence of technological advances
One theory points to the impact of technological advances. In the early 20th century, color printing became more widely available and affordable. Department stores and advertisers used more color printing in catalogs aimed at children and babies. The strong blue/pink gender division emerged out of this commercial trend.
Association with traditional gender symbols
Another idea is that pink took on feminine connotations because it was associated with flowers and delicacy. Blue evoked masculinity because it related to the sky and sea.
Distinguishing clothing
A practical need to differentiate boys’ and girls’ clothing may have also driven the trend. As color printing grew, the ability to categorize children’s clothing visually by gender matched wider social norms of distinguishing boys and girls through dress.
The influence of maternal feminism
Some historians point to the rise of maternal feminism in the late 19th and early 20th century as a catalyst. As the ideals of motherhood gained prominence, mothers may have embraced the ability to outwardly proclaim their children’s gender through new mass-produced clothing options in blue and pink.
When did pink and blue become strongly gendered colors?
While some gendered color associations existed historically, pink and blue only became strongly associated with girls and boys respectively in the 1940s. By the 1950s, pink for girls and blue for boys became a widespread norm in the U.S. and Europe, across all social classes.
| Time Period | Gender Association |
|---|---|
| Up to 1940 | Some weak gender color associations existed, but the conventions were not universal or strict |
| 1940s-1950s | Pink and blue become strongly fixed into girls = pink, boys = blue |
The post-war baby boom solidified the pink/blue gender divide. As the birth rate exploded, increased mass production of cheap, colorful children’s items spread the convention widely. The strong color-gender link remains to this day.
Do gender color associations exist across cultures?
While pink and blue are strongly associated with girls and boys in the contemporary U.S., these gender color connotations are not universally accepted across cultures.
In parts of Asia, red is seen as a lucky color for girls. In Mexico, yellow is the color for baby girls. In Belgium, pink is sometimes still seen as a boy’s color rather than a girl’s. Gender color associations have changed over time in many societies.
Even when certain colors are associated with a gender, the divisions are often weaker than the pink/blue distinction common in the U.S. Cultural traditions and local influences lead to variations in color gender perception. The strong Western pink/blue divide likely emerged from specific technological and social circumstances in the 20th century.
How do colors influence perceptions of gender?
Research has shown that the color pink elicits decreased perceptions of competence and strength compared to the color blue. In one study, participants rated a fictional job applicant as less competent and decisive when their resume was on pink paper, vs. blue or white paper.
Another study found that women wearing pink uniforms were seen as less professionally capable than women wearing blue uniforms. Participants also linked pink more strongly to weakness and submissiveness.
Through repeated association with girls and women, the color pink has taken on feminine connotations that influence how pink-colored objects and people are perceived, often to their detriment. This reflects the larger stereotyping women face regarding competence and leadership abilities.
Conclusion
Pink and blue did not always have such strong gender meanings. The pink/blue gender divide solidified in the mid-20th century through technological changes, commercial influences, and cultural traditions linking color to gendered symbols and norms. While pink and blue remain iconic gender colors in the U.S., gendered color associations vary across cultures and eras, reminding us these distinctions are not biologically determined. The meanings we assign to colors have real impacts on gender perceptions and stereotyping.
