Thread: Why is pink associated with femininity?

Originally Posted by Daniel Danciu

Pink is subconsciously considered a feminine color for sexual reasons only.

That doesn't explain how the colors were reversed between the 1920s and 1940s.

Originally Posted by thegnome54

That doesn't explain how the colors were reversed between the 1920s and 1940s.

It doesn't have to. Generally speaking people still held pink in regards with fertility in their subconscious. It's an innate concept in our mind that remains the same regardless of what the times are.

Also, think of it this way: Just because the colors were reversed for 20 years that doesn't mean that pink loses it's female sexual definition. On another note, I made the mistake of referring to pink as a "female" color in all cases. This may not necessarily apply to homosexuals or bisexuals, but predominantly in humans the color refers to female.

Originally Posted by Daniel Danciu

It doesn't have to. Generally speaking people still held pink in regards with fertility in their subconscious. It's an innate concept in our mind that remains the same regardless of what the times are.

Also, think of it this way: Just because the colors were reversed for 20 years that doesn't mean that pink loses it's female sexual definition. On another note, I made the mistake of referring to pink as a "female" color in all cases. This may not necessarily apply to homosexuals or bisexuals, but predominantly in humans the color refers to female.

what exactly does pink have to do with fertility or female sexuality? Do you have any evidence that cultures associated pink with femininity before 1940?

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

what exactly does pink have to do with fertility or female sexuality? Do you have any evidence that cultures associated pink with femininity before 1940?

Red, which is very closely related to pink, has been used through various cultures throughout history to represent energy of sorts, including sexual energy. Examples are China (fertility), Japan (married women), Europe (sexual passion), and others. It does not necessarily has to be feminine in nature, but since the majority world of old was run by men these colors would represent female sexuality.

Originally Posted by Daniel Danciu

Red, which is very closely related to pink, has been used through various cultures throughout history to represent energy of sorts, including sexual energy. Examples are China (fertility), Japan (married women), Europe (sexual passion), and others. It does not necessarily has to be feminine in nature, but since the majority world of old was run by men these colors would represent female sexuality.

In Buddhism, red symbolizes control. The founding fathers of the U.S. characterized red as symbolizing 'Hardiness and Valor.'

Red is also not pink. If the question was about red then the argument could be made that it is symbolic of menstrual blood; but the question is about pink. What evidence do you have that any relation between pink and fertility is "innate... in our mind"?

I hardly see how, pink is the universal color of a flower? the most common color of a flower that I see is uh...yellow?

and if you are going to say pink flowers is the reason why pink is associated with females then you are going to need to first explain why FLOWERS are associated with females

do girls like picking flowers more than boys? wasn't it the boys who originally thought 'picking flowers' was romantic? isn't a bouquet in its own right, a mans idea of whats a romantic gift? (don't most girls prefer chocolate?)

do girls like flowers more than boys? were women the first ones to take flowers seriously and study its parts, leading to the discovery that flowers have both male and female sex parts? or was it men who first studied flowers?

is it a womans idea that she should wear flowery patterns to look attractive, or is it a mans idea?

I think people all too easily say "flowers are girly" without really understanding why they are associated with females in the first place.

I don't see any reason to say girls like flowers more than men. That's just not true. And in the western world men are under the influence of straight social conditioning. That is, if a man whats to be straight then he's not supposed to like flowers. So we cant really rely on the western male to tell us if he does or doesnt like flowers *YOU ARE ALL BRAINWASHED*

I think there is a more subconscious Freudian reason why flowers are associated with females. Its actually the same reason why FRUIT are associated with the feminine. Flowers are sexual organs, their only purpose is to have plant sex and then give 'birth' to the next generation. Flowers have both male and female sex parts.

Do you know what a fruit is? All fruits come from pollinated flowers - just a way of saying this flower has had flower-sex. Now the ovary of a flower starts off real tiny. Then it swells up a zillion times its original size. As it swells up, it protects and nourishes the ova or egg inside of it - which at this stage we call seeds.

We call this over sized swollen flower ovary, protecting and nourishing the next generation of plant life - fruit. We might as well call apples and oranges pregnant flowers.

When you put it into perspective that this giant apple tree could not exist had it not first been 'concieved' in the 'womb' of a flower. Then its not hard to see how flowers are associated with females.

but pink??? im still having a hard time figuring that one out. I would think green would be the universal color of the female, since green is the color of nurture.

I think pink is a mans idea of what should be the female color. as pink on a ladys cheek, rouge on her lips mean something that men desire. And why blue is the male color could have been the same reason in reversed - because back in the day a woman was not supposed to 'desire' a man. She did not choose her husband. And blue is not a sexual color, and pink is. So there you go.

I dont really care if a guy wears pink, unless he is being a DB like in that hilarious pic. However, I have to say a lot more girls look good in pink, maybe that helps it along? Along with the cultural things of course.

Originally Posted by tkdyo

I dont really care if a guy wears pink, unless he is being a DB like in that hilarious pic. However, I have to say a lot more girls look good in pink, maybe that helps it along? Along with the cultural things of course.

do you know how many girls think guys look HOT in pink? I think pink is just a sexual color in general. I mean, think about it. when a homophobic guy sees a man wearing a really hot pink - he flips. why? not because it makes the guy wearing pink look girly - but its sorta advertisement in the homophobic mans mind. because in the homophobic mans subconscious - pink is an invitation.