Why was Pink for Boys and Blue for Girls?

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  • Опубліковано 29 січ 2018
  • Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: to.pbs.org/DonateORIG
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    Pink for Boys and Blue for Girls might seem strange to modern eyes and sensibilities, but up until the 1940’s a lot of people thought pink was the more masculine color and blue was clearly more feminine. So how did we end up in a world where it’s 100% confirmed that pink is the marker of all things girly and blue denotes boyhood? Well it’s a long strange story, so watch the episode to find out!
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    Written and Hosted By: Danielle Bainbridge
    Graphics By: Noelle Smith
    Produced By: Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)
    Works Cited:
    www.google.com/amp/s/jezebel....
    www.thelist.com/32342/real-rea...
    www.huffingtonpost.com/smarte...
    www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...
    www.theatlantic.com/sexes/arc...
    www.bbc.com/future/story/20141...
    www.npr.org/2014/04/01/297159...
    mentalfloss.com/article/65058/...
    www.huffingtonpost.in/aradhana...
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
    Professor Jo B. Paoletti at the University of Maryland
    Pink and Blue: Telling the Boys from the Girls in America Jo B. Paoletti
    Sex and Unisex: Fashion, Feminism, and the Sexual Revolution
    The Secret Lives of Color ˆKassia St. Clair

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2 тис.

  • @ZorroVulpes
    @ZorroVulpes 6 років тому +5446

    Two questions I still have:
    1. Why are the other colors gender neutral?
    2. Why is it not a big deal for women to wear blue anymore, but there's a stigma against men wearing pink?

    • @olivias.3750
      @olivias.3750 6 років тому +939

      ZorroVulpes I think I can answer number 2 for you. Nowadays it’s generally acceptable for women to act/dress masculine but when men wear pink (a color that is associated w/ feminine stuff) it make them seem weak or soft (which still isn’t normally accepted by society)

    • @robinchesterfield42
      @robinchesterfield42 6 років тому +519

      Yeah, #2 is part of a whole thing: Women doing guy stuff is "cute" up to a point, whereas guys being girly is "EEEEWWW, GAY!!" Case in point: Names. Look how many names have gone from being a family name to being a male first name only to being androgynous and then a GIRL name only...and _then_ look how many have gone the other way.
      ...I can't think of _any_, off the top of my head.Heck, my own screen name is an example of that! :)

    • @sandrallewellyn2632
      @sandrallewellyn2632 5 років тому +338

      Patriarchy. It confines BOTH women and men

    • @silverbane8065
      @silverbane8065 5 років тому +87

      Might be some of the old christening rules for infants.
      My mother often told me that babies must wear only white or yellow/lemon before they were christend in church, but we are in the UK so I duno about USA baptizement clothes rules

    • @Kat-tq6tm
      @Kat-tq6tm 5 років тому +226

      2.
      Yeah. It's stupid. When I do see a guy wearing pink I find it odd, but cool. They're willing to break the normal clothing ideal

  • @tultsi93
    @tultsi93 5 років тому +934

    Pink used to be a boys' color, because it was lighter shade red, and red symbolized fire and masculinity. Blue was a girls' color, because it symbolized harmony and femininity.

    • @lazyowl95
      @lazyowl95 5 років тому +34

      @Sword Dance nobody argues that...

    • @robenkhoury7079
      @robenkhoury7079 4 роки тому +15

      @@lazyowl95 most people argue that :(

    • @Kyle-fn9tz
      @Kyle-fn9tz 4 роки тому +14

      I don’t see blue as feminine, It’s only the Westerns from the past who Viewed The color blue as feminine and pink as masculine.

    • @bria8481
      @bria8481 3 роки тому +17

      @@Kyle-fn9tz their talking about the past

    • @nullvoid6095
      @nullvoid6095 2 роки тому +20

      @@Kyle-fn9tz blue also used to be considered feminine since it’s the color of the Virgin Mary (wisdom, heaven, empress, Byzantine royalty). When people are talking about masculine/feminine colors, it’s about Western countries possibly with Christian influences. Shades of red (and pink was considered a shade of red in the ancient world) was more associated with Christ, representing the Holy Spirit, martyrdom, blood, his death on the Cross, fire (of passion. Fire also purify sins). Pink could be a mix of red and white, making it the color of “flesh and bone” as well as health and youth. Light, pastel shades of blue and red (aka pink) were used to tell the difference between boys and girls before they started wearing sex-distinguishable clothing, so the masculine-feminine association came to be. And because it was based on the Virgin Mary’s portrayal with deep blue & Jesus’s portrayal with fiery red, it became that way long ago.

  • @II-ne3lp
    @II-ne3lp 5 років тому +267

    My son has always preferred purple colors lol. Hes five and wears pink and purple flannels and black jeans and no one says anything

    • @ben10nyson
      @ben10nyson 5 років тому +11

      💜

    • @II-ne3lp
      @II-ne3lp 5 років тому +5

      BTS Satan 💜

    • @allanrichardson1468
      @allanrichardson1468 5 років тому +34

      Purple was only for royalty until the synthetic dye called “mauve” was invented in the 19th century (an interesting science history story in itself). Before mauve, since ancient times the only source of purple dye was a mollusk found in the Eastern Mediterranean, near modern Lebanon. The dye was called Tyrian Purple because it was sold by the merchants of Tyre to wealthy nobles and kings all over the Mediterranean world. It was very expensive, since you have to crush and boil a lot of those poor little critters to get a small amount of dye. This is the origin of the phrase “born to the Purple,” meaning of royal birth.

    • @nicomoist5336
      @nicomoist5336 4 роки тому +21

      @@allanrichardson1468 so this person's kid likes to be royalty. Noice

    • @smileez2556
      @smileez2556 2 роки тому

      Sameee.. I like purple

  • @Ciesiam
    @Ciesiam 5 років тому +169

    I love the confidence in men who wear pink. This is attractive to me.

    • @a-s-greig
      @a-s-greig 2 роки тому +6

      Noted. Time to dig my Brony merch out of the closet...

    • @kay4081
      @kay4081 2 роки тому +9

      I just prefer feminine men then masculine men.

    • @smileez2556
      @smileez2556 2 роки тому +6

      I think men wearing pink is completely fine... I dont get why people think theyre gay. Its just a colour

    • @smileez2556
      @smileez2556 2 роки тому +1

      My classmate wore pink at a holiday and i think it looks pretty lit

    • @cadethumann8605
      @cadethumann8605 Рік тому

      @@kay4081 Why need to separate masculinity and femininity? Why not share each other's virtues (like, I can see a "feminine" woman being assertive and willing to help a nearby citizen in need while a "masculine" man being soft and compassionate towards children).

  • @danagray9709
    @danagray9709 6 років тому +3805

    you forgot the original reason for pink as a color for boys: Red was considered a manly, royal color. Pink was seen as simply a lighter version of red. Thus, pink was for boys, who weren't quite old enough to qualify for a manly color like red.

    • @ca9drop
      @ca9drop 6 років тому +89

      What about blue for girls?

    • @mkxguides5711
      @mkxguides5711 6 років тому +216

      Carlo Reyes maybe purple was a royal colour for women and so blue was for girls because they weren't ready for purple yet?

    • @santiagoleiras6876
      @santiagoleiras6876 6 років тому +245

      Mkx Guides purple is a very difficult dye to find in nature, that's why royalty used it, because it was expensive and the masses couldn't afford it.

    • @santiagoleiras6876
      @santiagoleiras6876 6 років тому +76

      Mkx Guides it wasn't until very recently that they discovered a way to synthesize purple dye, before that it was hella expensive

    • @zappawoman5183
      @zappawoman5183 6 років тому +164

      Carlo Reyes I think it might have something to do with the Virgin Mary. Blue used to be a very expensive paint colour, so it was used to depict and honour the Virgin Mary in icongraphy and thus became associated with feminity and purity.

  • @YukihyoShiraki
    @YukihyoShiraki 6 років тому +1987

    The more I watch this channel, the more I’m beginning to realize how much of our culture has been driven and manipulated by consumerism...

    • @christianawilliams9101
      @christianawilliams9101 6 років тому +85

      Oh Yes. I heard that even diamonds engagement rings were pushed by a company/industry.

    • @ariellel6123
      @ariellel6123 5 років тому +37

      @@christianawilliams9101 Yes they were, personally when I get married I want a cheaper ring because they cost a fortune!

    • @barbaracrisp6121
      @barbaracrisp6121 5 років тому +49

      Now, you’re waking up, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

    • @Graestra
      @Graestra 5 років тому +40

      When you think about how much control social media has over peoples lives it gets kinda scary.

    • @hambone4984
      @hambone4984 5 років тому +15

      That's capitalism baby 😎

  • @nans969
    @nans969 3 роки тому +161

    When I was pregnant with my son, early 90s, I wasn't told his gender. For some reason at my baby shower, I got a lot of girly clothing. Like onsies and pj's. He was a big baby. He grew really fast. I had no problem using the girly clothes. Mostly at night. I used what I had. Especially if I had to change his clothes 2 or 3 times a night. They were clean and fit him. This was only up to 6 months. He grew out of things fast. He is 29. He's not traumatized. He's not gay( you can't turn someone gay. Someone actually said that to me because he wore ballerina pj's at home). I think people are too hung up on gender pacific items. I'm a girl and I played with trucks and cars. My son and friends played with kitchen sets in school. They are toys.

    • @rubbish_kid._
      @rubbish_kid._ 2 роки тому

      Trucks go vroom

    • @rubbish_kid._
      @rubbish_kid._ 2 роки тому

      Trucks go vroom

    • @octosmart3548
      @octosmart3548 2 роки тому +6

      Actually cooking sets toys is for both gender and cooking is for both genders

    • @rachaelgreen1812
      @rachaelgreen1812 Рік тому

      Yes

    • @nans969
      @nans969 10 місяців тому +1

      @@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw how is it confusing? They are just clothing. And I never took embarrassing pictures of him. Sorry that someone wearing clothing that is not traditionally for that persons gender makes you feel uncomfortable.

  • @jayxfrost8987
    @jayxfrost8987 5 років тому +287

    I really don't like these gendered nurseries where girls have to have everything pink and boys blue. Everyone is allowed to wear what they want, and not what their gender tells them they should weird.
    Btw. I'm a girl and I've always hated pink.. specially combined with white it's so sweet it gives me diabetes.

    • @bagheerita
      @bagheerita 5 років тому +30

      I"m also a girl who's always hated pink; it's my least favorite color of them all. My dad can pull off pink shirts really well, though.

    • @gigachadkaiba2700
      @gigachadkaiba2700 5 років тому +27

      I'm a girl who hates wearing dresses 👗 (and bikinis 👙) so much no matter what color it is because it's really embarrassing and ridiculous! I prefer tuxedos 👔, hoodies, clothes that cover my whole body, T-shirts with quotes 👕, jeans 👖, shorts below the knees, jordans 👟, cabs, unisex clothes, boxers/trunks, sports bra, jogging pants,... 😒
      Edit: I'm a tomboy... 😑😑😑

    • @crab5862
      @crab5862 5 років тому +8

      @@gigachadkaiba2700 i like your style.

    • @gigachadkaiba2700
      @gigachadkaiba2700 5 років тому +5

      @@crab5862 thanks… 😅

    • @princemaxx
      @princemaxx 5 років тому +26

      @@gigachadkaiba2700 And you'll probably never get majorly criticized for it probably just questioned. While me, being a guy, decided to wear heels, leggings, crop tops, booty shorts, and dresses would be criticized immediately. Honestly I hate it bc out of some of the stuff i said i actually would love to wear but society just doesn't agree with men having varieties bc it looks "feminine ".

  • @aplam94
    @aplam94 5 років тому +4605

    I don’t believe that colour should be based on a The sex of a person. I believe people should wear whatever colour they want.

    • @alize0623
      @alize0623 5 років тому +106

      April Lam Babies can barely be called people. They’re babies. They can’t even hold their head up, much less tell you what they want to wear.

    • @Artheila
      @Artheila 5 років тому +132

      Then you dress your child in what you like and also keep it varied so that it's a real choice for them once they're older, and they're not automatically always chosing pink simply because that's what you've always dressed them in.
      They are people, just not ones capable of making fashion choices. A child can ofteb tell you what they want to wear from around 1.5 years old.

    • @Ashenicky2009
      @Ashenicky2009 5 років тому +73

      Yea. It started a pretty irritating debate in elementary. Pink and purple were girl colors, and boys had all the other colors known to man. It was irritating to me, though my favorite color was always purple, what if my favorite was green?

    • @j.j2-classyvevo840
      @j.j2-classyvevo840 5 років тому +54

      @@Ashenicky2009 it's pretty cool that you noticed that. "Boys have all the other colors known to man" lol that's very true. I was watching a ted talks & a trans dad who was trying to raise his child gender neutral said a very similar comment "he said if you dress your child in gender neutral colors(orange, green, yellow, red) no one is going to see your baby & say 'that's a cute gender neutral baby' they're simply going to say 'that's a cute BOY'. I know as a boy i was pretty much trained by social norms to like the color blue, which blue is a beautiful color imo but now that i'm older & trying not to have gender norms control my thoughts & behaviour, i brought some pink stuff but came to the conclusion I don't like the color pink (pink is too loud & obnoxious for me, it's kinda like a eye sore). But I realized(like you) i like the color purple & I actually decked out my room with a lot of purple. But I like wearing pink stuff just as a protest to gender norms(even tho I hate pink 🤮 lol)

    • @MelB868
      @MelB868 5 років тому +11

      I let my Sunday school have any color construction paper they want unless the activity calls for a certain color so then everyone gets the same color.

  • @Spomeroy014
    @Spomeroy014 6 років тому +1188

    Summary: back in the day, people just wore clothes and wanted to reuse them when they had another kid. Nowadays, stores want you to spend more money so they advertise the need to buy new clothes and toys for every child.

    • @jgvanv812
      @jgvanv812 6 років тому +30

      Sean Pomeroy with my first child who is a boy we didn't find out if he was a boy or girl so we got a whole stash of gender neutral clothing now we are having a girl and already have what she needs for the first 6 months of her life. Yes we did get gender specific clothing for him when he was born and are getting gender specific items for her now too but we only have to get a couple cuz we have most of what she needs.

    • @Diamondraw4Real
      @Diamondraw4Real 5 років тому +2

      not always the case, but good point.

    • @Diamondraw4Real
      @Diamondraw4Real 5 років тому +1

      Amber Valancy same here 😊

    • @rachelb1502
      @rachelb1502 5 років тому +12

      @@jgvanv812 true, plus the girls toys/xlothes are always so patronising and shit..

    • @Indiebee8
      @Indiebee8 5 років тому +8

      Sean Pomeroy I had my son 4 years ago and I’m using his old clothes for my 3 month old baby girl.

  • @SB-uk5wx
    @SB-uk5wx 5 років тому +22

    I always thought creating these gender colour assignments seemed really silly and needlessly restrictive.

  • @SusanHopkinson
    @SusanHopkinson 5 років тому +53

    You’re a great presenter. 👌🏻

  • @EddyGurge
    @EddyGurge 6 років тому +2507

    I see you're wearing blue.

    • @pbsorigins
      @pbsorigins  6 років тому +352

      EddyGurge complete coincidence I swear. I also currently have pink hair...so I guess I'm unconsciously mirroring the topics of our videos.

    • @EddyGurge
      @EddyGurge 6 років тому +91

      Origin Of Everything you're doing great. Just a random observation that amused me :)

    • @celeste8157
      @celeste8157 6 років тому +36

      And blue eyeshadow

    • @hankiedave
      @hankiedave 5 років тому +31

      And kind of a pink necklace :0

    • @jenbo2547
      @jenbo2547 5 років тому +14

      @@pbsorigins Blue looks great on you, esp with your hair color. This is very interesting, I ask myself a lot of questions re origin, so I think I struck gold here! I knew about the dresses for boys from looking through old photos with my grandmother. However, not the colors, maybe because the photos were black and white :) Thank you much!

  • @myopinionsarefacts
    @myopinionsarefacts 6 років тому +802

    So what we have learned is that clothing is just fancy fabric that doesn't mean anything

    • @Diamondraw4Real
      @Diamondraw4Real 5 років тому +7

      kimonos come in different colors and chosen for/by the buyer according to their age.

    • @theocaratic
      @theocaratic 5 років тому +40

      Words are just sounds and don't have any meaning. just like clothes, they only have the meaning we assign them. so if we assign meaning to clothes, then they have meaning in the same way that words do.

    • @theowesaye9001
      @theowesaye9001 5 років тому +3

      @@theocaratic nvm I didn't understand what you were saying until I reread it sorry I'm so dumb lel 😝😶

    • @bubbly7137
      @bubbly7137 5 років тому

      *claps*

    • @EmeraldEyesEsoteric
      @EmeraldEyesEsoteric 5 років тому +6

      Wrong. It means what Nature says it means. Blue relates to Sky and Water. Green for Vegetation. If your child is a vegetable get him green? Hahaha. JK. Pink / Purple in nature is found in flowers and sunsets. Red is a color of blood, red rocks, lava. White is universally for clouds, light, and purity. Yellow is gold, wealth, and the Sun. Black is darkness. All Skin colors are the colors of dirt. Bible says we are dirt.

  • @SplashJ
    @SplashJ 5 років тому +27

    It's normal for me seeing girls wearing blue and stuff but I barely see boys wear pink and I asked some "what is your favourite colour" and some said pink but they never wear it now I know why

    • @crab5862
      @crab5862 5 років тому +3

      im a girl and buy like 90% of my clothes from the boy's section, i never see pink.

    • @kemii_io706
      @kemii_io706 5 років тому

      SamiraXox CAN U TELL ME WHY?

    • @ElizabethJones-pv3sj
      @ElizabethJones-pv3sj 4 роки тому +6

      Speaking as someone who regularly shops for a toddler and works with 2-4 year olds it's so clear how much business decides this for us. Unless you're OK with the huge price tag for the upmarket shops or you've got a lot of time to make your own clothes you're stuck with what the manufacturers decide you must want which is: blue, trucks, dinosaurs, trains, and construction vehicles for boys; or pink, unicorns, birds, flowers, fairies, and ballerinas. After the first birthday the vast majority of clothing available is heavily gendered (even if you find the rare neutral colour it's probably got some sort of design on it to designate it as masculine of feminine).

    • @robenkhoury7079
      @robenkhoury7079 4 роки тому +2

      @@ElizabethJones-pv3sj thanks for your time. Good luck with your job ❤️

    • @blameitoncapitalism
      @blameitoncapitalism 4 роки тому

      because of misogyny, sweety. everything considered "feminine" is also viewed as inferior, and/or confined to ith "niche", while things culturally placed on the "male" corner is utterlly identified as either: superior, since men are so better than women anyway; or neutral, because men are the default and women are the deviation. You know, the most famous origin mith, Eve is just a part taken of Adam, in the begginnnings of Man kind, right? So now "Man" is equal to "human", so "mainly" stuff is mostly applicable to anyone. Plus is a womenhood/femininity hating and degratting society, men wants to distance themselves from the less worthy human as much as possible, they won't decline themselves with these "girly things", and even women wants to distance themselves from "other girls" and compete with each other - only for the attention and approval of men of course. yeah, misogyny is the reason.

  • @singh_nimisha
    @singh_nimisha 2 роки тому +21

    Pink looks beautiful on males. Nothing to do with colours, be yourself boys. You guys rock. All the best for future. Be neutral to any gender and if you like pink go for it. Remove the stigma.❤️

    • @manitiwari9233
      @manitiwari9233 2 роки тому +1

      Gotcha

    • @cz2301
      @cz2301 Рік тому +1

      Agree. Also, im a textile pattern designer and i wear the patterns i design, as shirts, backpacks, etc. First of all, men in general are so afraid of using colors and even more afraid of wearing patterns. It's so ridiculous! Im sure it's because of the European Modernist rejection of patterns and ornamentation. I hope at least the Millennials start to change it!

    • @singh_nimisha
      @singh_nimisha Рік тому

      @@cz2301 Also, I saw a few GENZ boys wearing patterns and experimenting new colours on them. This was so revolutionary that got stuck in my mind. ❤️

  • @swedishfeeish
    @swedishfeeish 5 років тому +234

    I remember as a kid watching the old version of 101 Dalmatians and seeing that the father dog's color was red, while the mother dog's color was blue so I was a bit confused about which color belonged to which gender.

  • @caitlincorbett6193
    @caitlincorbett6193 6 років тому +776

    I like more of a "exposing the child to all kinds of colors" mentality. I would get bored looking at one color all of the time. I had so many favorite colors growing up. I liked all of them :)

    • @christianawilliams9101
      @christianawilliams9101 6 років тому +25

      I have heard that newborns only see red, black and white to begin with so actually it might be better to start with those colors

    • @synflwr
      @synflwr 5 років тому +12

      I loved yellow and green when I was younger, and I hated pink.

    • @bobbiusshadow6985
      @bobbiusshadow6985 5 років тому +5

      Agreed, 100%..... even generic white walls bore me

    • @bubbly7137
      @bubbly7137 5 років тому +4

      Me as a child liked a different colour every week. lol

    • @girlloveskpopanime1515
      @girlloveskpopanime1515 5 років тому +1

      Caitlin Corbett ikr

  • @ordinarythings95
    @ordinarythings95 3 роки тому +49

    I love this woman’s voice 😌

    • @Goot253
      @Goot253 2 роки тому +1

      Me tooooooo!

    • @jjurinim
      @jjurinim 3 місяці тому +1

      ME TOO❤

  • @avastreeter602
    @avastreeter602 5 років тому +13

    Actually pink was made for boys because it represented blood and fighting and being tough. As blue was for girls because it was like the ocean and calm and graceful.
    I don’t believe in colors that are for boys or for girls. I have a friend who is a boy and his favorite color is pink and not dark pink, it’s really light gorgeous pink.
    It’s not a big deal anymore for men or women with color luckily. I see men wearing pink and I see women wearing blue ALL the time and no body cares.

  • @vilwarin5635
    @vilwarin5635 5 років тому +210

    curiosity #1 blue, as a color associated with purity, was one of the favourites to make wedding dresses (as well as green) before Queen Victoria rocked the white.
    curiosity#2 in the old Disney´s film, you can see the boys dressed in pink (Michael, in Peter Pan) and the girls in blue (Wendy, Alice, Cinderella, Belle... etc)

    • @fairygore3526
      @fairygore3526 3 роки тому +4

      Something they’re finally historically accurate at- (satire)

    • @bylersmi
      @bylersmi 11 місяців тому

      exactly! disney did many things associated to the period they made that movie, the little brother of wendy was wearing pink, while she was wearing mostly blue, same with alice, cinderella, belle, aurora they had all blue dress

    • @NoBullsh_t
      @NoBullsh_t 8 днів тому

      ​@@bylersmiJudy Garland in the Wizard of Oz too..

  • @FrankLeeWillis
    @FrankLeeWillis 5 років тому +92

    In old paintings you'll actually see the men frequently wearing pink robes and the women, blue robes. Those were simply the colors for the gender. I think it says something about our society, not that we assign certain colors to genders, but that, even when trying to break those boundaries, we assume that those boundaries themselves are some ancient truth which needs to be destroyed, instead of the sheer fact that many of these things are actually very, very recent developments. White for wedding dresses? Wasn't a thing until victorian times, if I remember. Wedding rings? Marketing schemes in the nineteen hundreds. It really isn't that big of a deal to discard these traditions (you're not some revolutionary if you do) because they really aren't very old traditions at all.

  • @Iloverollerskatingandgirls
    @Iloverollerskatingandgirls 5 років тому +7

    When I have kids I’m gonna make the gender reveal blue if it’s a girl and pink if it’s a boy and confuse everyone

    • @elysse3653
      @elysse3653 2 місяці тому +1

      what would be even better is if we all agreed that a baby’s gender doesn’t matter

  • @kelsey5418
    @kelsey5418 5 років тому +6

    When I was small, I used to really like pink. Pink everything, walls clothes, everything. I still like pink now but I am switching to other colours.

  • @Madjaman
    @Madjaman 6 років тому +254

    In the nordic countries during the 17th century pink and red were colours for boys while green, blue and brown was decided for girls. This concerns the nobility though, as people of a lower socail status couldn't chose as freely between different colours.
    So: a lady was represented by the colours of blue, green and brown seen to how these was quiet and smouth colours, easy to the eye and did not take too much attention. The idea was that a lady should be cool, calm and collected and so should be dressed in more "natural" and "calm" colours.
    A nobleman on the other hand should be dresssed in red or pink seen to how these are the colours of blood and honour (during that time) seen how most men joined the army at one our several occations.
    [Sorry my bad english]

    • @pbsorigins
      @pbsorigins  6 років тому +37

      Madjaman thanks for adding this info and for watching! It's hard to add everything into one short video so the comments are a great place for expanding our understandings of different cultural practices!

    • @theocaratic
      @theocaratic 5 років тому

      +

    • @cubanita365
      @cubanita365 5 років тому +6

      Thanks for sharing these facts!

    • @ShanteRoxxane
      @ShanteRoxxane 5 років тому +2

      Madjaman Aaaah, very interesting and cool.

    • @dionashani5945
      @dionashani5945 5 років тому +6

      Dude you have PERFECT english honestly don't worry about it! Americans can't learn languages for shit, so the fact you can do that is really damn impressive!

  • @SteinGauslaaStrindhaug
    @SteinGauslaaStrindhaug 5 років тому +19

    The marketing people missed an oppurtunity, since gender specific colors still allows reuse for children of the same sex. Instead they should have pushed blue for first born children, green for second born, yellow for third, orange for forth etc. Then they could really have prevented widespread reuse. ;P

    • @octosmart3548
      @octosmart3548 2 роки тому

      😂I'm imagining that wilp be so westful for people who will be following this

  • @RuanGustavoZagoEmidio
    @RuanGustavoZagoEmidio 2 місяці тому +1

    This kind of video is very important to people to think about how things have changed and will always change. I didn’t know babies used to wear dresses and the same hair cut until a certain age, because there was no necessity in make their gender noticeable. I liked the content of the video and how the woman explained it properly but clearly. Congratulations 👏🏼

  • @swanniexd7860
    @swanniexd7860 3 роки тому +7

    Interesting that it seems we’ve gone backwards in regards to how we dress our kids, I feel like dressing kids in white since it’s neutral until they are old enough to express their own colour/fashion preferences is pretty cool and we should go back to that!!

  • @rparl
    @rparl 5 років тому +42

    I recall yellow for future infants, before ultrasound discovery.
    My late mother told me that as an infant I wore dresses, almost certainly handed down within her large family (WWII era).

    • @phalynwilliams4119
      @phalynwilliams4119 3 роки тому +2

      Yes, infants wore yellow as a gender neutral color. It is now popular to wear light green too.

  • @joysfulljourney
    @joysfulljourney 6 років тому +138

    It seems that the answer to everything is capitalism and industrialization.

    • @EmeraldEyesEsoteric
      @EmeraldEyesEsoteric 5 років тому +6

      but what is the answer to the problem of capitalism and industrialization?

    • @Orinslayer
      @Orinslayer 5 років тому +18

      @@EmeraldEyesEsoteric Wisdom. People just need to grow enough to see that companies will twist anything to make a dollar. Of course kids lack this, so it's up to parents to nurture and convince them to not fall for the marketing racket.

    • @rudyerickson3830
      @rudyerickson3830 5 років тому

      @@Orinslayer the parents buy the stuff though

    • @PheonixStarsx
      @PheonixStarsx 4 роки тому

      This Is why we need communism

  • @sarahbelle1124
    @sarahbelle1124 5 років тому +2

    Danielle, it's so nice to listen to you. You're intelligent and speak fluidly.

  • @ben10nyson
    @ben10nyson 5 років тому +72

    It's same as women wearing pants & shoes isn't a big deal but Men wearing skirts & heels would look funny to everyone...don't know why it have to be, the way it is (sorry for my bad english)

    • @marthaloven9385
      @marthaloven9385 5 років тому +11

      It doesn't have to be the way that it is. As a society, we have the power to change it.

    • @ben10nyson
      @ben10nyson 5 років тому +1

      @@marthaloven9385 yeah but not everyone is cooperative

    • @rudyerickson3830
      @rudyerickson3830 5 років тому +2

      @@ben10nyson there is reasons why men are attracted to certain things rather than others.

    • @princemaxx
      @princemaxx 5 років тому +20

      @@rudyerickson3830 That's actually not how it works. A person's brain isn't designed to like certain clothing right out of the womb. Children's parents tells child what is "right" to wear. Certain children want to wear the opposite but are told no by their parents. Girls just have it easier than guys because they have a wider variety of clothing to choose from while men will get criticized for wearing something "feminine". when honestly it's just clothing and people should be able to wear whatever tf they want.

    • @marthaloven9385
      @marthaloven9385 5 років тому +2

      @@ben10nyson That doesn't mean things can't change. For example, I can legally vote because people worked to change that, even though not everybody was cooperative.

  • @flutenanyidk1806
    @flutenanyidk1806 5 років тому +67

    I wish girls had gotten blue, pink is ok... but blue is SO pretty!!

    • @rudyerickson3830
      @rudyerickson3830 5 років тому +17

      Girls are accepted with all colors

    • @robenkhoury7079
      @robenkhoury7079 4 роки тому +15

      @@rudyerickson3830 unfortunately....I wish guys could also wear anything

    • @MsDisneylandlover
      @MsDisneylandlover 4 роки тому +4

      my mom loves blue i am a pink girl myself

    • @iwillpoopinurpants1836
      @iwillpoopinurpants1836 3 роки тому +4

      Lol, I like Pink More, but I look prettier in blue xD. But when I was young I hated Pink, but nowadays I love pink and like in general all colours

    • @untilm
      @untilm 3 роки тому +1

      nah. girls should have gotten red

  • @IndigoMayRoe
    @IndigoMayRoe 6 років тому +394

    In Belgium, it is still pink for a boy and blue for a girl.

    • @nameisamine
      @nameisamine 6 років тому +14

      Indigo May Roe really??!!!!

    • @marieferret8868
      @marieferret8868 6 років тому +16

      no it's not

    • @JoseGomez-ys3zs
      @JoseGomez-ys3zs 6 років тому +15

      @@marieferret8868
      Do you live in Belgium? I live in USA. I believe what this person is saying, so please show respect.

    • @JoseGomez-ys3zs
      @JoseGomez-ys3zs 6 років тому +12

      @Br00tal Teutonic Thrasher666
      I doubt that. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as a boy or girl color. Duh!

    • @marieferret8868
      @marieferret8868 5 років тому +18

      I live in belgium yeah

  • @zzzKyliezzz
    @zzzKyliezzz 5 років тому +2

    Your voice is perfect for narration. Great content, good editing, great narration. Thank you for creating this informative video!

  • @ericabutler3618
    @ericabutler3618 5 років тому +1

    i love how your voice sounds, you made the video feel short and even more interesting.

  • @guest_informant
    @guest_informant 6 років тому +138

    White was easy to wash?

    • @alexbella99
      @alexbella99 5 років тому +53

      Because colored clothes can fade over time unlike white if they wash over time it still remains its distinguish color

    • @theocaratic
      @theocaratic 5 років тому +52

      you can just dunk white clothes in bleach and not worry about it too much, whereas with colored clothing, bleach would destroy the color.

    • @silverbane8065
      @silverbane8065 5 років тому +17

      Also white clothes back then could be boiled to get them clean. It was a variation on 'boil till it's gray and the germs go away' for food lol.
      Victorian cleanliness had you boiling and borax soap using till your hands desolved.

    • @melodyclark1944
      @melodyclark1944 5 років тому +3

      Yeah, don't believe people that say that brides didn't wear white because it couldn't be washed. There is plenty of documentation of babies and men wearing white.

    • @ivygreatsingerinhiding6847
      @ivygreatsingerinhiding6847 5 років тому

      Guest Informant lol

  • @jnwoodard8764
    @jnwoodard8764 6 років тому +86

    It’s a color, so that argument is stupid. Everything is just culture based. It’s the same reason that diamond engagement rings became the norm: advertising.

  • @briannabenson4173
    @briannabenson4173 2 місяці тому +1

    I heard someone say that it used to be the case in Ireland that Green was considered a masculine colour & yellow was considered a feminine colour.

  • @FoamKittyGamer
    @FoamKittyGamer 5 років тому

    Thanks for breaking this down, I recall a college mate of mine mentioned this to me. Glad to see a video about it.

  • @88FireStar
    @88FireStar 6 років тому +76

    When it comes down to it colors are neither masculine or feminine or gay it's just colors I feel that both genders should be able wear whatever color they desire and enjoy God's creation

    • @rudyerickson3830
      @rudyerickson3830 5 років тому +1

      *maximum cringe levels being exceeded

    • @crab5862
      @crab5862 5 років тому +2

      i have been enlightened by Golden

  • @MisterCF8
    @MisterCF8 6 років тому +225

    I wear pink! I am a guy!

    • @JoseGomez-ys3zs
      @JoseGomez-ys3zs 6 років тому +16

      Mister C F
      I respect you. You are just like Elvis Presley, he loves pink.

    • @michaelbaughman8910
      @michaelbaughman8910 5 років тому +19

      I wear pink in Early October. Real men were pink for the cause. It is not just women who get breast cancer...MEN do too.

    • @ren2719
      @ren2719 5 років тому +20

      I think its cute when guys wear pink

    • @synflwr
      @synflwr 5 років тому +22

      I'm a girl and my favourite colour has been blue for a pretty long time now.

    • @rheakg
      @rheakg 5 років тому +6

      so? thats normal its just a color

  • @barbarafontaine8285
    @barbarafontaine8285 2 роки тому

    I really enjoyed listening to you speak and present your information. Straight forward and without needless word salad.

  • @ilove2929
    @ilove2929 5 років тому

    I always have this question in my mind. Thanks for addressing this!!

  • @AUSTINBGRANT
    @AUSTINBGRANT 6 років тому +11

    All good points! There are so many great theories regarding this topic. Historically military uniforms could have been a major influence for determining the ‘manly’ colors of the time. the scarlet coats of British military (designed by Oliver Cromwell) could contribute to the initial red/pink for boys. The US choice of blue for its paramilitary was for direct contrast (debatable) but nevertheless blue for US police officers and navy has associated the color throughout the 19th century with male dominated roles. Also let’s not forget the great Amy Eisenhower and her famous pink dresses.

  • @pandaempirethatsme3821
    @pandaempirethatsme3821 5 років тому +7

    Whenever a person at my school says pink is for girls and blues for boys I show them this video and they stop saying it😋😋😎

    • @i.dle.k
      @i.dle.k 2 роки тому +1

      They still say that at my school even though I kinda hate pink lol

  • @-zephyressence-2018
    @-zephyressence-2018 5 років тому

    Really like your narrative style! Kept me interested throughout the whole video!

  • @AllNJesusFreak
    @AllNJesusFreak 9 місяців тому

    Great Video! This is exactly what I was looking for when I did my search.

  • @bb22602
    @bb22602 5 років тому +7

    When Meg's twins were born in "Little Women" Amy put blue on the boy twin and pink on the girl twin "in the French fashion."

  • @sourpotatoo
    @sourpotatoo 5 років тому +8

    Let me break this to you, I just gifted a whole bunch of pink stuff toys to my 1 yo cousin brother and our other 2 cousins gave other colors.
    Yes pink, to a boy. This rule hasn't touched us. I live in Bangladesh, south east Asia.

  • @johexxkitten
    @johexxkitten 5 років тому

    💜💜💜 love the subject, and your delivery!
    I used to do medieval reenactments (sadly I am too sick to cope with tent life all summer).
    We provided a service called "living history" so that people (and kids on school trips, could learn about medieval life.
    Any of our group who had children with them at events had to dress their kids in authentic looking clothing (we all mostly made our own clothing, or we traded with each other, so I might do some sewing for Bob, but Bob would work with leather and repair or make things like belts and shoes.)
    So the kids woulod be part of the

  • @xanadu2192
    @xanadu2192 5 років тому +1

    I just love your channel! You deliver information on unique subjects in such an interesting way. :D

  • @vinkoivomilicdiaz6932
    @vinkoivomilicdiaz6932 6 років тому +7

    Very interesting and educational. Really awesome!!!

  • @creativityzero9407
    @creativityzero9407 3 роки тому +5

    I've just had a glimpse of how our society is confusing and always creates a new method to complicate anything. I've never thought of pink being used for the boys. It kind of blew my mind.

    • @a-s-greig
      @a-s-greig 2 роки тому

      The dresses bit, too. There are baby pictures of Theodore Roosevelt in dresses and considering his interests later in life it's the funniest juxtaposition imaginable.

  • @victoriaeads6126
    @victoriaeads6126 Рік тому +2

    Pink as a dye was only introduced into European culture in the 18th century. Its rarity and novelty meant that it was initially kept only for the wealthy and high ranking. Thus, it was initially also associated with maleness, since that time in Europe was very patriarchal. When it became more common and eventually plebian, the association with masculinity waned. Then we pick up with the analysis in this video.

  • @ingridricketts6200
    @ingridricketts6200 5 років тому

    You’re fabulous! Love the energy

  • @stephaniehight2771
    @stephaniehight2771 5 років тому +8

    Why is it that girls can wear just about anything they want, but some items of clothing (dresses, skirts and frilly decorated clothing) are off limits to boys?

    • @holifishuwu4341
      @holifishuwu4341 5 років тому +5

      Stephanie Hight They aren’t off limits, some people just think it’s weird.

    • @stephaniehight2771
      @stephaniehight2771 5 років тому +8

      That's the point. A girl wears anything and no one thinks it's weird. A guy wears a dress and it's weird. Why?

    • @CedarSam
      @CedarSam 3 роки тому +3

      Because feminity is denigrated in a sexist society. It's OK if women imitate male styles, since women aren't that important. But for a man to take on a feminine style is shameful and demeaning. For confirmation, look at how calling a group of males "girls" is seen as an insult.

  • @TheElectra5000
    @TheElectra5000 5 років тому +64

    As usual, the almighty dollar decides for us.

  • @donnaokoniewski3761
    @donnaokoniewski3761 5 років тому

    I really have been enjoying your videos! You are an excellent speaker and your content is VERY interesting and professional. Thank you so much for sharing what you do. Well Done.

  • @YY-de9og
    @YY-de9og 5 років тому

    So interesting! And so many pictures to support all the data. Thanks!

  • @AdventuresWithPCS
    @AdventuresWithPCS 6 років тому +76

    What about the use of pink triangles for homosexual men in world war ii? I was under the impression this was the largest factor responsible for the switch from pink for men to blue.
    Thanks for the video! They're always phenomenal and reviewing everything at the end is incredibly helpful.

    • @UMProf
      @UMProf 6 років тому +12

      Highly unlikely. www.pinkisforboys.org/blog/did-the-nazi-triangle-inspire-pink-symbolism

    • @AdventuresWithPCS
      @AdventuresWithPCS 6 років тому +7

      Thanks for the source!

    • @pbsorigins
      @pbsorigins  6 років тому +15

      Jo Paoletti thanks for adding additional resources! This also came up in the facebook comments section.

    • @sailordolly
      @sailordolly 5 років тому +3

      Alternatively, one could speak of anti-communism in the first half of the 20th century up until Senator McCarthy. "Pinko" was a common epitaph for Communist-sympathizers, making pink in general appear less masculine and "American".

    • @bylersmi
      @bylersmi 11 місяців тому

      that’s also a good point, even if at this point why associating it to women like they could’ve made it just a color associated to homosexuality (that still is)

  • @etheriaart2172
    @etheriaart2172 6 років тому +27

    I read blue for girls was down to how the Virgin Mary was styled in churches with her blue scarf.

    • @SocialistFinn1
      @SocialistFinn1 5 років тому +11

      No, Virgin Mary was styled in blue because for most of human history, blue has been an expensive and rare colour, only reserved to the most important subjects, such as the Virgin Mary. Blue only became common in the 1800's and especially in the 1900's if I remember correctly.

  • @miriam9482
    @miriam9482 5 років тому +8

    I'm from Germany and nobody thinks that's yellow is the color for jealousy. Never heard that before

  • @Rissy617
    @Rissy617 5 років тому +1

    It's so interesting to see how this has changed over the years and likely will continue to change because it feels so engrained to me

  • @brycelify
    @brycelify 2 роки тому +12

    Imagine being pregnant, and having an intersex kid. Then asking the doctor "Is it a boy or a girl?" and the doctor just goes "Yes. Your baby is yes."

    • @ALEX-vq4hg
      @ALEX-vq4hg 2 роки тому +1

      Nah ur baby is all so choose Liliac bc it’s a mix of pink and blue

  • @rachelturner1841
    @rachelturner1841 5 років тому +6

    Love this video it’s very important to understand that it’s only been recently when we started pairing colours with gender.

  • @Ranpo_ADA
    @Ranpo_ADA 2 роки тому +2

    My mom knows my favorite color is Blue, and yet, I still have pink sh!t in my room that I hate.

    • @misscaptain5598
      @misscaptain5598 2 роки тому

      My sister is 10 and is experiencing the same thing 😅 She's pretty sick of all her fuchsia and purple gifts when all she wants is something blue for once.

  • @Mari-gq2jp
    @Mari-gq2jp 2 роки тому +2

    Im a girl and I like the color pink but I've never understood why some people think girls have to like pink and boys have to like blue. One of my little sisters likes blue and there's no problem with with that. My baby sister likes green.

  • @BeatrixBe
    @BeatrixBe 2 роки тому +4

    I always tought that baby blue is very suitable for little girls. Also I heard that yin-yang symbol was originally red-blue, and red was the masculine, and blue was the feminine side, like fire and water.
    I have gotten a plenty of blue clothes as handmedowns for my daughter, she is very pretty in them.

    • @bylersmi
      @bylersmi 11 місяців тому

      real 😭 blue is so good for girls like it has more association with us than the pink

  • @keira...
    @keira... 5 років тому +3

    I remember my all time favorite outfit when i was 3 was a blue matching set of tank tops and shorts with white butterflies on it. I absolutely loved that outfit and i cant say why 😂

  • @anrijupiter
    @anrijupiter 2 роки тому +2

    I hated that clothes and toys were categorized as “boys” and “girls” as a kid. I’m a girl but always wanted “boys” stuff and my parents didn’t let me and made me feel I’m weird for liking “boys” stuff. I wish these none sense shits will disappear one day.

  • @nolant5791
    @nolant5791 Рік тому

    Very interesting, thank you so much for this 😊

  • @christinewilliams4490
    @christinewilliams4490 5 років тому +3

    Every colour is for every body 🙂

  • @abelrrant
    @abelrrant 6 років тому +22

    I remember recalling on a piece of information to the popularity of pink for girls. I think its the queen of England would wear pink because its her favorite color. In turn, the popularity of pink was associated with girls? or Blue was associated with the Virgin Mary, and so definitely a preferred color for girls. Red was associated with war and conquest, so a very manly color. Pink was a gentler version, more appropriate for boys.

    • @prairiete
      @prairiete 5 років тому

      Yes, I know this explanation too from long ago

  • @santiagobordaesquivel2303
    @santiagobordaesquivel2303 5 років тому

    What a great video, I enjoyed very much!

  • @SkimaT00B
    @SkimaT00B 5 років тому

    Awesome information! Thanks!

  • @pamczech5984
    @pamczech5984 5 років тому +3

    You know my mom worked for Macy's in Chicago it was blue for girls and green for boys and this was around1934 1935 or so

  • @theragingplatypus4743
    @theragingplatypus4743 5 років тому +4

    Pink for girls and blue for boys was really cemented by the 1940s and not 1980s.

  • @eisforeverything
    @eisforeverything 5 років тому +1

    Interesting! This aligns with a story in my family; my maternal grandfather's earliest memory was sweeping the stoop of his family's Brooklyn apartment and he remembered he was wearing a dress because he was so young.

  • @grcarie
    @grcarie 3 роки тому +2

    I prefer gender neutral clothes for kids anyway. So much easier to pass hand-me-downs between cousins and siblings. So much easier to save money and time on streamlining the wardrobe.
    There will always be gendered gifts for children coming from family and friends, so I like to stick to the basics. Whites, greys, and tans for onesies and undergarments or pajamas. Denim overalls. Etc. I don't encourage my daughters to dress like a boy or go crazy with colors and etc. I get them girl or gender neutral stuff and then follow their interest from there.

  • @Seraphim1627
    @Seraphim1627 5 років тому +5

    Boys and girls can like what ever color they want I know a few boys at my elementary school that like pink 😊

  • @Penguinstudios123
    @Penguinstudios123 5 років тому +10

    Why do we do this😹 the human race is weird af. Just wear what you want. Any clothes will do😹

    • @crazycatlady39
      @crazycatlady39 5 років тому

      Wear what you want but understand that other people will always still have their own opinions. Some of them seem to be unable to accept any opinion but their own.

  • @minekiddd7624
    @minekiddd7624 3 роки тому +1

    Many people: pink or red is for girls and blue is for boys
    My parents painting my room purple when I was born, a mix of pink/red and blue: lol what?

  • @sami-ls7bq
    @sami-ls7bq 5 років тому

    you speak really well, that was amazing

  • @PennyP1986
    @PennyP1986 6 років тому +5

    What is with these people, she answered the questions twice. You just want to complain about something.

  • @girlloveskpopanime1515
    @girlloveskpopanime1515 5 років тому +4

    Tbh i like pink when i was little and then when i was growing up i like purple and blue

  • @nerolsalguod4649
    @nerolsalguod4649 5 років тому

    Thank you! Very infomative.

  • @jessmotley8167
    @jessmotley8167 5 років тому

    Omg love your videos!!!!!

  • @lanakat
    @lanakat 5 років тому +11

    Blue will always be my fav color it’s such a pretty color unless it’s dark blue i am a girl

  • @TheDoRoBouNeko
    @TheDoRoBouNeko 5 років тому +3

    I seriously think pink looks really good on men. Well, also depends on the type of clothing. XD

  • @rafaeldecarvalho9431
    @rafaeldecarvalho9431 5 років тому

    This Channel is amazing!

  • @learntocrochet1
    @learntocrochet1 5 років тому +1

    Marketing pushes color as well as toys. Division of gender is still pushed "Boys toy aisle, girls toy aisle" This is still said by salespeople! Walk down the girls toy aisle and you will see predominantely pink and purple. This push causes little girls to believe those are their favorite colors...how limiting! 45+ years ago when I was raising my girls, I refused to limit what they played with and what they wore. Their clothes were all colors and I let them pick. Some days they might have on a blue shirt, red overalls, pink socks, green shoes! Made me smile, made their grandma wonder about me!

  • @BodePassos
    @BodePassos 6 років тому +33

    You're amazing!

    • @devluz
      @devluz 6 років тому +6

      Agree. She is a really good presenter. They way she talks makes it very engaging.

    • @pbsorigins
      @pbsorigins  6 років тому +7

      That's so kind!! Thank you both for watching!!

    • @searchcandy6492
      @searchcandy6492 6 років тому +2

      Agreed, super personable and vivacious, made this video fun to watch!

  • @charlene_9076
    @charlene_9076 5 років тому +3

    Stupid question: Is this the reason why Dorothy Gale (from The Wizard of Oz) always wore blue?

    • @joshuamunson7844
      @joshuamunson7844 5 років тому

      Y'know, that's a good question.

    • @NoBullsh_t
      @NoBullsh_t 8 днів тому

      Movie was made in 1932 so I would say yes..

  • @noirberries
    @noirberries 3 роки тому +2

    It truly depends on the culture/marketing. I know for a fact that in India lots of men still wear pink and even flurescent pink boldly!

  • @patriciajohnsonson8639
    @patriciajohnsonson8639 3 роки тому +1

    I had a pastel blue bedspread with white rosebuds on it and lace around the edge for my daughter’s crib. My sister didn’t like that at all! I also passed my son’s clothing down to my daughter for the first few years. My daughter did have plenty of “girl” clothing too.

  • @firefeather9999
    @firefeather9999 5 років тому +5

    my mom thought id be a boy from the ultrasound XD it was just my cord though, i'm a girl.

    • @lozzylols
      @lozzylols 5 років тому

      She must have had a shock at your birth then!

    • @firefeather9999
      @firefeather9999 5 років тому

      indeed she did, if i were a boy shed have had 5 sons and no daughters.

  • @biteyourneck
    @biteyourneck 5 років тому +4

    Im a girly girl i love love love love loooooooove pink 😍💞✌

  • @goaheadjuicy
    @goaheadjuicy 5 років тому

    You just got one subscriber! You do a awsome work(sorry If i didnt write correctly)

  • @rebcol4926
    @rebcol4926 5 років тому

    Great explanation!