Are You Tough Enough to Wear Pink??

Some of you may be familiar with the saying, “Are you tough enough to wear pink?” As a nationally recognized breast cancer awareness campaign, Tough Enough to Wear Pink is popular in the rodeo and western event community and promotes fundraising efforts to benefit local communities.  For those of you not aware, many professional rodeos designate an entire day of their rodeo events as “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day, encouraging attendees to wear pink clothing in support of the very important cause.

For me, this saying has a lot more meaning. You see, I like to wear pink. I have pink shirts, a pink sports coat, pink ties, and yes, even pink shorts. That may shock some of you who believe pink is an inherently feminine color. If that is what you are thinking, then this article is for you. Hopefully, when you have read to the end of my thoughts here, you will have a different opinion—not only about the color pink but more importantly about how society (and in particular, marketing) affects our choices and opinions.

I will be the first to tell you that any time I wear pink—unless it’s to the designated night at the rodeo—I have to make sure I am of the right mindset because often I will get some kind of flak, most of which is good-natured, but some of which definitely isn’t. So, I completely agree that when a man wears pink, he’d better be prepared and tough enough to do it. Honestly, and I hate to admit that someone else’s vision of the world directs what I will or will not do, but there are times when I’m tired or in a sour mood and I am more careful about my style choices just so I don’t have to engage with naysayers.

I have received all types of criticism, but most of it has involved some kind of offhanded comment about pink being a girl’s color. The common societal belief that pink is for girls and blue is for boys implies that there is an inherent link between gender and color preference in human DNA, and suggests that men who like pink are somehow less masculine. But here is the thing very few people know: until the 1900s, pink was considered a masculine, blue-collar color. In the movie The Great Gatsby, the reference to the color of Robert Redford's pink suit is not related to its femininity, or masculinity, but rather to its suitability for someone with a blue color background, or the inverse being an upper class individual. Also, at the risk of referencing John Wayne a bit too much in my articles, I’d like to point out that in a lot of his color movies, the cowboy wore a pink shirt. I would hope if it is something John Wayne did, that it would help dispel some crazy beliefs.

Decades ago, I heard how pink had become a color for girls. A few years ago, I finally decided to confirm what I had previously heard. So, here is the story in a nutshell: in the early 1900s, paint, wallpaper, and baby equipment companies came up with the idea that if they could convince people to change the color of their baby’s room based on whether they were a boy or girl, they could sell a lot more of their respective products. Before that, I think times were tough enough for most people that the baby was lucky enough just to have a crib, never mind a separate room that changed color every time a new baby, of a different gender was born. However, as the economic status of people improved, marketers of these products realized the power they could wield by emotionally targeting the parents of a new child.

As they strategized to come up with a marketing plan, they arbitrarily chose pink for girls and blue for boys. In reading the history about this, it could have well been just the opposite, or it could have been a choice between green and yellow, or red and orange! There was apparently no particular meaning attached to these colors back then, at least in the way of gender stereotypes.

I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that this story really isn’t about the color pink. The lesson here is about being aware of how society affects and shapes our view of the world without us ever realizing it. Today it's pink, but tomorrow it will be something else.

I have come to the conclusion that if I allow myself to give way to some arbitrary marketers’ opinions, that probably says far more about my masculinity or toughness than wearing whatever the hell one feel like.

Ironically, although not planned apparently October is breast cancer awareness week, and this is pink week here in Alva. So hopefully this will be a timely article.