What's Girly Anyway?
A few weeks ago the topic of girly gadgets came up in a discussion about the practice of marketing pink versions of electronics, appliances and other gadgets (say, tasers) to women. Some of the gals at work didn't mind and liked the option to coordinate their accessories, while others are getting a little irritable about the whole trend. Who says girls automatically like pink anyway? Well, the neuroscientists, apparently. Now it turns out there may actually be some deep-seated ancestral reason that might explain why girls may naturally be drawn to pink -- and it has absolutely nothing to do with Barbie! What the science-y types had to say about gender-specific color preferences:
"... these differences may have a basis in evolution in which females developed a preference for reddish colors associated with riper fruit and healthier faces."Hmmm ... I'm not sure if I completely buy it and I still think that Barbie probably has a little something to do with it, but then again, I'm also the proud owner of a 56-piece pink tool set. So perhaps I am a little biased. What do you think? Is liking pink just an archaic stereotype of women or what? Does it matter? They're also discussing this story on the Lesbian Life message board and cl-tings-tang has this to say about the findings:
I myself think its a crock, because I have never liked the color even as a kid, though I will admit as an adult I will occassionaly wear things in the salmon or reddish shades, they are by far Not my general preference.
While we're on the subject of "girly things", this discussion from the Six- and Seven-Year-Olds message board caught my eye:
"I was wondering if anyone has a boy who likes to do "girl" things. My son is not into sports, and he is as gentle as a lamb. He still likes to walk around in my shoes! I know he is only six (seven next month), and one never knows, but it is starting to concern me. Most of his close friends are girls, and he hasn't really connected to any boys. Girls at this age are starting to only want to play with girls, and he is getting crushed."
I'm no Dear Abby so I won't dispense advice, but in my experience this sort of thing is pretty normal and nothing to worry too much about. I do think, that we have a tendency to be more accepting of little girls as tomboys playing with trucks than little boys playing with dolls, but don't get me started on that. As for me, I spent a lot of my youth playing with GI Joe, Star Wars action figures and those little green army men. I'm laying all the blame on my brother for that one. What about you?
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give me a break... the "scientific" study canvassed adults' opinions about colors. After 20+ years of being innundated with pink, isn't it somewhat likely that girls would prefer pink subconsciously??
I'll be more likely to believe I'm genetically coded to love pink if they do a study to track baby's eye focus / attention time and there's an obvious gender preference then. Pink's only been a "girly" color since the 40s or 50s... it used to be a man's color because it was in the red family. I honestly think we've gone overboard with it.
yeah, I somehow can't believe that this study can get rid of the incredible amount of previous programming. The "pink as marketing to women" strategy really gets me, because as a not large woman(5'2") I like stuff marketed to smaller people, but I don't really like pink, have never worn it, etc. So when all of the smaller tools are pink, it just makes me nuts. because pink tools are not allowed in my apartment. or any pink technology gadgets. That whole trend is not getting any of my money, even if I can't do anything else about it.
I'd rather have them market things to me based on how much more practical it is for me to use, such as smaller, lighter weight things that fit my hands better and are easier to hold than the bulkier, heavier, manlier things are, and not because some "study" says I'm more likely to be drawn to pink. Plus, I'd much rather have everything in red, lol. ;)
I hear you! even though i must admit i like "girly" PINK products and they do appeal to me. but i am what you would consider "girly" i guess......if you call wearing lip gloss and mascara to the gym then i am guilty. but i do like the idea of having a choice in colors of all consumer goods. because not to long ago we were stuck with black or gray cell phones that all looked alike. if i can get a pink IPOD or TASER then god bless technolgy!
How the hell is pink's "girliness" relevant to anything? Manufacturers produce different color options because they know there will be a market for them, regardless of whether that market is male or female. Money is money. Period.
How the hell is pink's "girliness" relevant to anything? Manufacturers produce different color options because they know there will be a market for them, regardless of whether that market is male or female. Money is money. Period.
How the hell is pink's "girliness" relevant to anything? Manufacturers produce different color options because they know there will be a market for them, regardless of whether that market is male or female. Money is money. Period.