Masculinity Vs. Pink
By Igor Zimmerman
In the 19th and 20th centuries, pink was a strong-hued color worn interchangeably between men and women. Men wearing pink in the 1920’s meant something different than it does now. Its progression, growth, and change in terms of femininity, masculinity, style, and connotation has ultimately changed for the better.
On and off again throughout the years, pink became a color worn by women, related to feminine things, and reminded people of a bubbly innocence. But in recent decades, pink has expanded its associations and audience along with the spread of culture, sexuality, fashion, and more. Some men in the media refuse to wear the color pink, but the cultural changes have become more accepting of it. With the expansion of society and its cultural norms, the pink is for girls and blue is for boys has changed. Colors shouldn’t, and will no longer, determine someone’s sexuality, gender, or personality; especially pink. During the 70s, 80s, and 90s, men strutted around town in pink suits, pink fur coats, pink flared pants, and pink splattered fedoras. Pink doesn’t emasculate a man; it emphasizes them.
Pink has been growing in all forms for all kinds of people. Men are so for wearing pink. Masculinity in men is something they would like to cherish and emphasize about themselves, so for pink to be considered emasculating doesn’t seem to sit with them well. I find the desire to wear pink in an effort to break the stereotype as a positive thing. Further pushing the limit to create gender neutral/unisex things is only for the better.