The Problem With Pink

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Have you ever heard someone say something about "living in a pink and tea-cups world" or "ugh, I couldn't live with so much pink around" or the like?

 I think that the world should quit being prejudiced against pink. It is just another color. Pink is in the crayon box the same as orange, brown, and denim blue. Pink is in the sunset just as yellow, orange or red are.

 All colors bring out feelings in people, feelings of association, or feelings of well-being, and if pink happens to be your "feel-good" color, than you are no different from the person who happens to prefer blue as a "feel-good" color. For some reason, though, pink preferences are judged more severely than other color preferences, and I'm tired of "pink" being used as a bad word.





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 If you like pink, it should be no big deal. If you like brown, or blue, or lime green, more power to you. It is a pity that pink gets such a bashing in the spectrum of colors.

People tend to have "favorite" colors. Children usually latch on to a favorite color and prefer everything that is of that shade. As adults we tend to dress or decorate in our favorite colors, or find that one color looks best on us, or around us, than others. There is nothing wrong with that

 Have you ever heard an acquaintance say,  "I was never one of those girly-girls who liked pink." I question why they feel the need to say that. Do they really think that we will judge them one way or another because they hated pink as a child? Do they really think we will change our minds about them if they admit that there was one color in the world they never could warm to? The reason they include pink in that statement is because pink has a connection with femininity in most people's minds. So a person who makes a statement saying they never liked "pink and ruffles" are really saying "I was never a feminine-minded girl." It just doesn't sound as good to say it that way-- it is sort of like admitting to contradicting themselves by being a girl and not liking femininity-- so they throw a color in there and some textures (ruffles, lace, frills, etc.) to soften the statement they just made about themselves. It is just a pity, though, that people tend to do that, because in some cases it comes across as pink-bashing. Or ruffle-bashing. Often is it said to someone who happens to be wearing pink, or has a bit of lace on, and then it comes across as offensive. If you are one of those who happens to be someone who never liked "pink" please just say what you really mean so as not to offend!

And again, I ask: is it really necessary to say anything like that at all? Do we really need to know that you were not a frills-and-pink girl as a child? Do we really? Does someone need to explain themselves in that way? Why not just keep quiet or comment on the weather? I doubt people really care that much about someone's childhood color prejudices.

But getting back to pink...





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If you wish to avoid pink (if you are afraid people will give you pink things as a gift)  a good way to state your dislike is "pink just isn't my favorite color" or a similar phrase. Follow it up with a positive "I'm more attracted to greens" or whatever the color may be.  Most of the time people that know you tend to know what colors you like, so it may not be necessary to say anything at all.

Do not forget that over time, your color preferences may change. I do not care for orange-- yet. I like food that is orange, but I am not fond of orange flowers or orange fabrics. The time may come when I am really crazy about orange. I may state my current dislike to very close friends or relatives while out shopping or looking at furniture or the like, but it does not mean that I have a deep hatred for the color.  Is there a reason for me to make some comment that could be construed as insulting to orange lovers, to the face of someone who happens to decorate or wear orange? No.





Roses and Lilies

Alfred Godchaux

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There is no reason to have a hatred for pink, or to use pink in a negative way, to put down pink, or put down people who adore pink.

I understand that pink will be forever associated with feminine things. I also understand that other colors are associated with other feelings and ideas-- white for purity, for example, or red for power. While studies may show all these associations to be prevalent in the minds of society, I think we should be careful not to put colors into a "box" (unless they are crayons-- but say- you could display them in a jar on the desk instead). While black may be a scary color to some because it is used by gangs and criminal minds, on the other hand some sweet and gentle women look great wearing black. You cannot put a color into a slot and say it is only for a certain kind of personality or group of people. But that is what has happened to pink. Taking the example mentioned earlier, do you ever hear a woman say "I was never one of those 'little black dress' kind of girls?" I suppose not-- pink is used instead. It makes pink "weak" to use it thus.

I applaud the bloggers who like to do a "Pink Saturday," and I think it is a fun idea, just as I think "Blue Monday" or "Rednsday" are fun ideas. They are equal in my mind. Colors are wonderful and should be celebrated. Pink should be celebrated by those who love it. Pink should not be singled out and beaten up by people who don't like it.





Rose

Pierre-Joseph ...

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Linking this rant to Pink Saturday