The color pink wasn’t always associated with femininity. In 1927, a Time Magazine survey showed that department stores had mixed ideas about which colors suited girls. In fact, a 1918 catalog even recommended blue for girls, calling it delicate. The shift to pink as a feminine color came after World War II, particularly in 1953 during President Eisenhower’s inauguration. His wife, Mamie Eisenhower, wore a pink rhinestone-studded ballgown and loved the color. Her influence was so strong that the shade became known as “Mamie pink.”
Pink then grew in popularity, appearing in fashion and home decor. It was seen as ladylike, and not oppressive at first. Media also pushed the trend—like the song “Think Pink” in Funny Face, which promoted pink over wartime colors like black and blue. While some embraced pink, others, like Diana Vreeland, rejected traditional gender roles. Over time, pink began to symbolize bold, non-traditional women too—such as racecar driver Donna Mae Mims, the Pink Ladies in Grease, and even the “Plastics” in Mean Girls.
Pink became a statement of power and defiance. A famous image of Hillary Clinton in a bright pink jacket highlighted women breaking glass ceilings. Ultimately, the color evolved to represent different kinds of femininity—both traditional and progressive.
Vocabulary:
• survey (noun): a method of gathering information from a group, usually by asking questions.
• delicate (adj): light, fine, or fragile—used to describe blue as a soft color.
• rhinestone-studded (adj): decorated with small, sparkly, fake gemstones.
• ballgown (noun): a formal dress worn at balls or formal occasions.
• arbitrary (adj): based on personal choice or random decision, not logic.
• oppressive (adj): unjustly harsh or difficult to bear.
• revert (verb): to go back to a former condition.
• fictional (adj): not real, invented for stories or media.
• canny (adj): clever and sharp, especially in judgment.
• glass ceiling (noun): an invisible barrier preventing women from advancing to top positions.
Source: Vox