I was recently privy to a conversation between two fathers, both with quite young children, where experiences were being shared and joyful anecdotes of fatherhood enjoyed. One of the experiences that both dads related to was the topic of preference for colour that their respective children had. Interestingly, it was apparent that in their families, boys prefer the colour blue whilst girls prefer pink.
This got me to thinking about the differences between males and females and whether a person’s colour preference depended largely on their gender. I decided to investigate this.
In 2007, a study was carried out by researchers Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling of Newcastle University to investigate the long-held view that women and men differed in their colour preference. In this study, 208 people, aged between 20 and 26 were recruited and subjected to a series of tests. A total of 37 members of the group were born and raised in China which allowed the researchers to compare the preferences of people from two different cultures. A simple test which required each participant to choose their preferred colour from a series of paired, coloured rectangles shown on a computer screen, yielded interesting results. According to Dr Hurlbert, whilst the universally preferred colour for both sexes was blue, females also showed a distinct preference for reddish colours. Dr Hurlbert further explains: “females have a preference for the red end of the red-green axis and this shifts their colour preference slightly away from blue towards red which makes pinks and lilacs the most preferred colours in comparison with others”.
The same results emerged with the men and women brought up in China, with Chinese females again showing a preference for pink, demonstrating that the differences in colour preferences between men and women seems to be biological as opposed to having a cultural explanation.
Dr Hurlbert suggests that the differences may have a basis in evolution in which females may have developed a preference for reddish colours associated with riper fruits, healthier faces.
(Original article: www.independent.co.uk/news/science/boys-like-blue-girls-like-pink-its-in-our-genes)
It’s extremely interesting that pink was historically considered more of a boy’s colour though. In 1914, an American newspaper, The Sunday Sentinel, advised mothers to, “….use pink for the boy and blue for the girl, if you are a follower of convention” (1914). Pink was designated for boys as it was thought to be the stronger colour, particularly in the Christian tradition as red was associated with the male and pink with boys. Blue was associated with the Virgin Mary and therefore considered feminine.
Rachel Perls, an American based architectural color consultant writes an extremely illuminating article entitled: “Why is Blue for Boys and Pink for Girls?” in her blog: hue…for the love of colour. At the end of the article she requests feedback as to whether gender specific colours hold true, from readers in other countries. It’s quite fascinating to read the responses from people all over the world.
In my own experience, having two sons and a daughter, meant that I did follow convention to a degree. I dressed my eldest son in white and shades of blue. I also dressed him in lots of other colours though. My youngest son wore every colour under the sun…….except pink! I do recall taking my newborn daughter to the local Post Office on a lovely summer’s afternoon. I was stopped outside by an elderly lady who upon peering into the pram at my daughter decked out in pink frilly dress, bonnet and bootees, asked: “How old is he???” I remember being perplexed at the time but maybe the association of pink with boys was something that was entirely natural to that particular lady’s generation.
So, on that note maybe it’s better to pose the question: Pink or blue for you???
Debbie Lewis is a Customer Support Executive at Happy Creative, a full service marketing and creative agency based in Blackpool, Lancashire. To learn more or contact us please go to www.happy-creative.co.uk
