It may look very weird to us today, but prior to 1940s, pink was considered to be a masculine color and blue was feminine.
For example, a June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department said, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
And this was not the only source: (the article continues after the ad)
In 1927, Time magazine printed a chart showing sex-appropriate colors for girls and boys according to leading U.S. stores in which, again, pink was for the boys and blue for the girls. In Boston, Filene’s told parents to dress boys in pink. So did Best & Co. in New York City, Halle’s in Cleveland and Marshall Field in Chicago.
Today’s color dictate wasn’t established until the 1940s, as a result of Americans’ preferences as interpreted by manufacturers and retailers.
If you like what you read, then you will definitely love this one: How Marshmallows Went From Being A Medicine To A Delicious Candy
Source: Smithsonianmag.com
Photo: MiguelRPerez / Pixabay
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