The Surprisingly Dark History of the Color Pink

Most people associate colors with emotions and traits. Sometimes, they are
even associated with objects and situations. Red, for example, is often
associated with love and passion. It may also signify an emergency or
distress. Green is typically linked to nature and money. White is usually
associated with purity and goodness while black is regarded as evil or dirty.

Pink, on the other hand, is said to be fun, youthful, and exciting. It is just as
sensual, although not as aggressive as red. It is the color of little girls,
cotton candy, bubble gum, and Barbie. It is soft, romantic, and happy.

With this being said, you may think that pink is such a positive color. It is
everything sweet and nice, right? Well… not exactly. The truth is that pink
actually has a dark past. A lot of people are just not aware of it.

This is what this article is going to tackle. We will discuss the connotations it
has then and now, as well as delve into its history to understand its
evolution and associations with different cultures and art forms.

Pink In the Present

If someone is to blindfold you and tell you that something pink is in front of
you, what are you most likely going to expect? You’re probably going to
imagine something delicate and feminine. After all, pink is associated with
fun, romance, innocence, sweetness, and positivity.

Before we discuss the dark history of this seemingly innocent color, let us
first tackle its present connotations and associations. Take note that pink is
also the chosen color for various causes.

When you watch the news on TV or read articles online, you’ll see pink
ribbons everywhere. They are used to represent the LGBTQ community as
well as raise breast cancer awareness. The British LGBTQ community also
uses the Pink Jack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm8NkmnCTG0
The participants typically wear pink ribbons and carry signs that feature such
symbol. These pink ribbons are particularly widespread in the United States.
People wear them to symbolize the ownership of their social, sexual, and
reproductive rights.

Then again, this pretty color is also used for political agenda. Activist
demonstrations such as anti-Trump marches, for instance, feature it. It is
also used to minimize aggression.

If you go to the University of Iowa, you will see that the locker room at
Kinnick Stadium is pink. It is painted in this color to pacify the athletes of
the opposing team and allow the home team to have a competitive edge.

Hayden Fry, the football team’s former coach, majored in psychology. He

was the one who started the tradition. In fact, pink urinals and lockers were
eventually added to highlight the pacifying effects of the color pink.

This is not the first time pink was used to curtail aggression. In fact, a lot of
prisons are painted in this color to have the same effect on inmates. In
Phoenix, Arizona, for example, inmates wear pink socks, underwear, and
flip-flops. We’ll discuss more about this topic later on.

Anyway, there’s also the so-called millennial pink. It came into existence
when the Pantone Color Institute named Rose Quartz the color of 2015 and
chose Pale Dogwood for its Spring fashion report.

This trendy shade of pink goes well with everything, from Instagram filters
to wines. It is even androgynous enough to look cute on guys. Both men and
women can confidently wear this shade.

As you have already probably observed, the younger generations are bolder
and more confident when it comes to wearing colors that used to be
associated with the opposite gender alone. Millennial pink is now seen
everywhere, from coffee shops to AirBnB rentals to clothing and accessories.

The History and Evolution of the Color Pink

Long before pink was associated with femininity and happiness, it was
known to denote the act of using a sharp blade to stab someone. In the 17 th
century, shoplifters, beggars, and people from the lower class of society
used the term “pink” to describe a deadly lunge.

It was also used on the saris of the Gulabi Gang, an Indian vigilante group.
Indeed, pink is a pretty yet powerful color. Likewise, before pink was linked
to Barbie dolls and dresses, it was originally a ‘boy color’. Are you
surprised? Well, the color pink is just as mysterious as it is sweet.

Pink for Boys, Then for Girls

Pink was originally a color for boys. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of
the Pantone Color Institute, said that it was regarded as a masculine color.
It was viewed as a pale shade of red, which possessed masculine military
undertones and was associated with aggressiveness.

In fact, an article published in The Infants' Department in 1918, stated that

blue was more suitable for girls while pink was for boys since it was the
stronger color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGSYGhUkvM

According to Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute

of Technology in New York, both boys and girls from the upper classes wore
pink in the 18th century.

In the book entitled Cross Dressing, Sex, and Gender, Bonnie Bullough and
Vern Bullough discussed how the colors pink and blue started to be
associated with girls and boys, respectively.

According to them, this whole concept emerged when the paintings Blue Boy
by Thomas Gainsborough and Pinkie by Sir Thomas Lawrence gained
popularity.

Pink started to be associated with girls in the mid-19th century. During this
time, Western men wore sober and dark colors. Hence, women had to wear
pastel and bright colors.

It was also during this time when the color pink started to be associated with
eroticism due to its hint of nakedness. Sexual references in art and literature
were made, and lingerie was manufactured in different shades of pink. The
color became a symbol for femininity and the female body.
Moreover, it has transformed from a Nazi symbol of hate to a symbol of
activism and pride. Pink triangles were used in concentration camps to
identify homosexuals. The Nazis forced gay men to wear pink badges. This is
another reason why the color pink is no longer associated with masculinity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpKrOyULPc

Pink In Fashion

Pink became the highlight of fashion in the mid-1700’s. European aristocrats

wore powdery variants to show their class and luxury. According to
historians, pink was Louis XV’s chief mistress Madame de Pompadour’s
favorite color. This is why we now have the shade Rose Pompadour.

Pink also became popular in interior design. Pastel shades were used on
Georgian gowns and silk coats, as well as became the ideal color for
bedrooms.

Eventually, pink became mainstream. Cheap dyes were mass produced, and
the sophistication of the color pink faded. It was no longer just worn by the
elite. It also became popular among the working class and even prostitutes.

The color continued to change throughout the 1900's. Paul Poiret, a French
couturier, made dresses in pastel and pale shades of pink as well as coral,
fuchsia, and cherry. This propelled the color pink back into the world of high
fashion.

The stereotyping of pink as a color for girls and blue as a color for boys
began in the 1950's, after the war. In the 1960's, Marilyn Monroe and
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, two of the most popular female role models in
history, wore it. This made pink the color of luxury once again.

Pink became associated with edginess when it was popularized by bands

such as The Clash and The Ramones in the 1980's. Pink was also embraced
by hip-hop and pop cultures in the 1990's and early 2000's, thanks to
musicians such as Madonna and Cam'ron.

At present, pink is still apparent in all kinds of things, from clothes to

cosmetics to accessories. It is common in fashion shows. It is still the
favorite color of many girls and women alike. Nonetheless, a lot of men have
also expressed interest in pink.

In fact, this color has been embraced more by men than it had ever been
before. Brands such as Ralph Lauren and Pink Shirtmaker London, for
instance, has popularized pink polo shirts for men.

Pink In Art and Cultures

The color pink can be regarded as an artificial color since it is normally not
found in nature. This is why you won't see the term 'pink' in English
literature prior to the 17th century. Today, it is still quite uncommon in other
languages, such as Japanese. In fact, the Japanese have several terms for
this color.

Nonetheless, pink is ubiquitous in Asian countries. In Japan, it is a symbol of

the slain samurai. Younger generations, however, associate it with cosplay.
In Korea, it is associated with trustworthiness.

Different cultures tend to favor different shades of pink. In a workshop

conducted by Barbara Nemitz, professor of fine arts at Bauhaus-Universität
Weimar, it was found that Europeans preferred warm tones while the
Japanese preferred the cool ones.

An exhibit at the Williams College Museum of Art further highlighted such

subjectivity. Christina Olsen, outgoing director and curator of the exhibit,
said that pink is an extra-spectral color. This means that other colors have to
be combined in order to create it. Pink hues are produced when blue and
yellow tones were added or subtracted from a spectrum of colors.

In the 15th century, Fra Angelico, an Early Renaissance Italian painter, used
pink in his famous fresco The Annunciation. It depicted the moment when
the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she was going to be
the mother of Jesus Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B-V_pG3HPQ

The Italian Renaissance master Raphael also used this color in his painting
La Madonna dei Garofani or Madonna of the Pinks. It depicted the Virgin
Mary and the infant Jesus with carnations.
During the Renaissance, artists started to include pink in their palettes. The
Italian painter Cennino Cennini defined the shade as a mixture of St. John's
White and Venetian Red.

In Western art, pink rose to fame when Jean-Honoré Fragonard used it in his
oil paintings in the 1770's. The French artist embodied the color's pendulum
movement from the spiritual to the secular. In his 1767 painting, The Swing,
he depicted a swinging girl with a loose silk shoe and male admirers around
her.

The color was also used by many other famous artists, such as Claude
Monet, Théo van Rysselberghe, and Edgar Degas.

In the 18th century, the color pink was no longer just used to portray
theologies. It became the color of choice for the portraits of high-profiled
mistresses, such as Madame de Pompadour and Emma, Lady Hamilton.

By the turn of the 20th century, the cultural significance of pink went through
a series of overhauls. It became the chosen color for Fauvism, a rough and
expressive modern art movement.

The color pink briefly disappeared after World War I, but regained its
popularity in the 1960's when it was used for the Pop Art movement. It was
used by the likes of Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Dan Flavin.

Canadian-American artist Philip Guston also used pink for representational

art. By this time, the color has already found its way to the American retail
culture. It has been incorporated in girls' dolls.

In the 1990's, digital aesthetics were popularized and the color pink was
once again incorporated in this trend. Today, you can see pink in many art
exhibits and art forms all over the world.

Pink In Prisons

When you think of prison cells and inmates, the words 'scary', 'unruly', and
'tough' may come to your mind. You may not even think of the color pink at
all. But as you have read earlier in this article, this color is used to curtail
aggression. This applies to anyone who is aggressive, including inmates.
Pink really does have calming benefits.
In fact, this strategy has been employed since the 1980's. Back then, prison
wardens painted prison cells pink to tame aggressive male inmates. They
got this idea from the study done by Alexander Schauss, a research
scientist.

Schauss had developed a pink paint shade that he claimed to be effective in

reducing aggressive tendencies and physical strength. He called it Baker-
Miller Pink, after naval officers Ron Miller and Gene Baker, who were also his
co-experimenters.

In the study, he asked participants to stare at a huge piece of pink paper.

They had to stare at it while they keep their arms outstretched. Then, they
were told to put their arms down.

The participants were able to do this easily because the color pink had made
them physically weaker. The same result was not achieved when Schauss
used the color blue in the same experiment. The participants were once
again told to stare at the huge piece of paper with their arms outstretched.
However, they did not become physically weaker from the color blue.

Miller and Baker were amazed with these results. So, they painted their
naval base's holding cells with this shade. They were ecstatic when they got
their desired outcome. The inmates were indeed pacified by the color pink.

This inspired other custodians to follow suit. They also painted holding areas
and psychiatric units with this shade of pink. Just like Miller and Baker, they
were also pleased with the results. The inmates became less verbally and
physically abusive as well as quieter.

A Cooler Version of Pink

After a while, Schauss decided to conduct the same experiment. However,

he discovered that Baker-Miller Pink no longer had calming effects on
inmates. These aggressive individuals were not affected by the bright, hot
shade of pink. In fact, Schauss became worried that the color might actually
make the inmates more violent.

A few decades later, Oliver Genschow, a psychologist repeated Schauss'

experiment. Along with his colleagues, they conducted a series of studies to
see if Baker-Miller Pink can lessen aggressiveness in inmates. However, they
did not find any evidence that this color can lessen aggressiveness.

In 2011, Daniela Späth, a Swiss psychologist conducted a similar

experiment. This time, she used a different hue of pink, which she called
Cool Down Pink. She went all over Switzerland and painted ten prison cells
with this shade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSQkcl4F0BI

Dozens of jail cells have been painted pink in an attempt to calm aggressive
inmates. A group of psychologists joined the project with the hopes of
positively changing the inmates' behaviors. After all, this feminine shade
promotes relaxation.

These psychologists believed that the color pink can tranquilize feelings of
anger as well as have calming effects on the nerves. They hoped for the
prisoners to be less aggressive when exposed to the color for certain periods
of time.

Aggressive inmates are confined in pink jail cells. Spath said that fifteen
minutes is enough to subside anger. Nonetheless, inmates are confined in
pink jail cells for a couple of hours. The prolonged time should increase the
effects of the color on them.

As expected, a lot of these inmates are not happy with such treatment. They
feel humiliated because they see the color pink as a 'girl color'. This caused
most of them to avoid doing anything that might lead them back to the pink
jail cells.

Within four years, the prison guards reported favorable findings. The
inmates who were put in pink jail cells became less aggressive. They were
also able to calm down faster.

Because of such positive results, Späth concluded that Cool Down Pink is
also ideal for schools, psychiatric wards, and security areas. The color can
help people attain relaxation, calmness, and peace of mind; thus, allowing
them to be more productive and reasonable.

In a British newspaper, it was reported that prison guards were pleased with
the effects of this shade. The prisoners, on the other hand, felt the opposite.
One of the prison reformers said that he felt degraded to be put in a room
that looked like the bedroom of a little girl.

This strategy, however, is not only used in prisons. It is also used in many
police stations. The police have drunk tanks, which are rooms that are
specifically meant for individuals who have been arrested for public
intoxication. This color helps them calm down and sleep faster.

Controversial Findings

Those who oppose this strategy say that using the color pink is
discriminatory and sexist since it is associated with femininity. Dominique
Grisard, a scholar on gender studies, disagreed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hPpv62IWOg

She said that pink prison walls are ultimately meant to humiliate the
inmates. Such humiliation can discourage them to be violent or abusive.
After all, inmates generally want to seem tough. Being held in a pink cell can
certainly ruin their reputation and make them appear less masculine among
their peers.

In 2006, a correctional facility in Texas was also reported to make inmates

wear pink jumpsuits to discourage them from going back to jail. The
custodians wanted the color to have the same psychological effects on the
inmates as it did in the experiments.

Conclusion

Truly, the color pink has a very rich history. It has also gone through
numerous generational shifts. The society no longer views it as a childish or
over-sexualized color. It has evolved into something feminine yet powerful
that even men are attracted to.

Today, pink is no longer just a color. It is used to make a statement. As you

have learned, various causes, including breast cancer awareness and LGBTQ
support incorporate the use of this color.
However, not all people are in favor of using the color pink to symbolize
something deep. For them, this takes away the simplicity of the color and
turns it into a tool that certain people might use and abuse.

Jo Paoletti, an author and academic, said that the color pink is usually worn
by people who engage in political activism. They wear it to show that they
are feminists or support certain causes.

Paoletti remains hopeful that this notion will eventually change. She wants
pink to be seen as an ordinary color rather than a tool for making a
statement or joining a movement.

The color pink, after all, is such a nice color. It should be enjoyed by both
men and women, regardless of their beliefs and culture. It should also be
confidently worn by anyone, regardless of sexual orientation.