Question 7

      Society likes to create stereotypes for almost everything, including genders. Girls are suppose to be delicate and like dolls as well as the color pink. While boys play rough, like toy cars, and the color blue. Growing up with these standards, I thought I could only ever like the color pink. Which is why as I grew older and got to the age where I could form my own opinion on things, I despised pink for the longest time. I felt as though if I were to like pink, I would be agreeing with societies stereotypes. But what's funny is that, the color pink didn't always represent femineity and associated closely with just girls. Dating back all the way to the 18th century, "little boys and girls of the upper classes both wore pink and blue and other colors uniformly," according to Valerie Steele at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY. Not only that though, but it's said that because red was associated with the color of the mother, pink was the color of the boys cause of it's strong connection to the mother. 
    It's hard to say why the sudden flip happened in society, that boys should wear blue and girls wear pink, but it's believed to be dated back in the 18th century. When a millionaire by the name of Henry Huntington's purchased two paintings where it depicted a boy wearing the color blue (The Blue Boy), and a painting of a girl wearing pink attire (Pinkie). It is said that this was all over the press, creating a new influential trend at the time that has traveled into modern day society. In my opinion, this stereotype not only puts restrictions on how people can express themselves but also as a second harmful standard where color can't be used to express yourself truthfully without backlash. In a article published by the CNN, it states that this stereotype is seeing improvements as time goes on, but it would take a special man that would say "I am not threatened by wearing pink,' or 'I don't think I am going to be viewed by other people as being too effeminate if I wore pink."
    At the end of the day though, I think we live in a timeline where no matter what you do, there will always be moments where you are getting judged for doing absolutely nothing. So honestly, just do whatever you want! ;)



Comments

  1. Shreya RajhansFebruary 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM

    Hi Megan, this blog was so educational but you still kept your personality and tone throughout the piece! When you mentioned the CNN article at the end, I was reminded of many instances in pop culture and in my own life where men have told other men that their wearing a pink shirt is redoing their masculinity or something of the sort, or just laughing at them. I'm just glad that some men do wear pink in the modern world - we have to start somewhere!

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