Boys and the colour pink.
January 22nd 2007 21:12
You can guarantee that nearly once a week I'll pick Callum up from playschool and be told about him being upset about not having the pink bike to play on. It's one of those girlie pink bikes with the little basket on the front and that son of mine is madly in love with it. Also it apparently doesn't help when the little girls are riding it saying "Nyah nyah nyah we're riding the pink bike." to him, although Mummy here has a little smirk on her face when she hears that.
But the pink bike saga isn't the first "pink saga". When we used to go to the Mother andn Toddler group there was a pink sparkly handbag and all the boys used to fight over this handbag, the girls would just be sitting nicely reading books and there would be all these little boys fighting for the pink bag and using the pink fairy wand to ward off anyone who touches it. The girls don't ever seem to be bothered about what toy or what colour or gendered toy they play with but it seems that our boys do. The funny thing though is that whenever you mention the colour pink to Callum he replies "Pink is for girls, ewww." *laugh*
So why are our boys so enamoured with this colour? Is it because as a parent of a boy you're more inclined to not dress them in pink, let them have dollys to play with or a pink sparkly handbag and so the colour pink becomes more alluring to them? Why as a parent do we do this? If you have a daughter do you go the other way and not let your daughter play with cars and not wear blue? Is there anything wrong in letting your child do these things? Personally I don't think so I find it cute, but not to the extent that I'll buy Callum the pink barble pink bike he wants.
But the pink bike saga isn't the first "pink saga". When we used to go to the Mother andn Toddler group there was a pink sparkly handbag and all the boys used to fight over this handbag, the girls would just be sitting nicely reading books and there would be all these little boys fighting for the pink bag and using the pink fairy wand to ward off anyone who touches it. The girls don't ever seem to be bothered about what toy or what colour or gendered toy they play with but it seems that our boys do. The funny thing though is that whenever you mention the colour pink to Callum he replies "Pink is for girls, ewww." *laugh*
So why are our boys so enamoured with this colour? Is it because as a parent of a boy you're more inclined to not dress them in pink, let them have dollys to play with or a pink sparkly handbag and so the colour pink becomes more alluring to them? Why as a parent do we do this? If you have a daughter do you go the other way and not let your daughter play with cars and not wear blue? Is there anything wrong in letting your child do these things? Personally I don't think so I find it cute, but not to the extent that I'll buy Callum the pink barble pink bike he wants.
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Comment by Nina
From your post it seems like the attraction for your son is the fact that he's not supposed to like it. Probably if you give it to him he won't want it any more!
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
You are right it is sad there is a double standard and that girls don't seem to be frowned upon for their tomboyishness.
I do allow Callum to play with the pink toys, he's even been asking for a baby (I'm really hoping he means a doll by this) and thinking of getting him one. I think it's good for them to not have these ties put on them.
Sarah.
xxx
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I like men are men and women are women, don't buy those pink barbie pants.
Callum is Callum and Callum does what Callum wants, very male, at his age everything is delightful, especially him, so don't analyse too much. It all gave me a good laugh, little boys DO like to be warriors, and shoot em up dead, bang, bang, ninja, whatever, there are no absolutes, but run pretty much as expected. Don't be concerned for Callum's three year old fetish for pink, he just might grow up to really love girls, than that will be another worry.
Vive la difference. Life is great, embrace it.
katyzzz
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
I good example I have is a friend of mine - 2 young boys, needed some bigger jumpsuits for the youngest who was still only a baby, albeit a growing rather fast baby.
I gave her some of my non-gender specific ones and then asked her if she wanted a particular pair because of the pink.
Now it wasn't much pink, it was white ( the thin cotton ones) with purple teddy bears talking about sleepytime on them, with little accents of things, ie. hearts,stars etc in violet, mint green, yellow and pink. So there were a fair few pink hearts. but less than 1 cm in size each.
She took it with her and she told me the next week that after he had worn it once, and it had been in the wash, said baby soiled himself in his bright blue jumpsuit and Mum asked the older boy to help her get a new one out. He then begged his mother to put my one on him because it was "pretty". He had become fascinated with the colours of it, and that was when we had a very similar discussion to your post.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
He loves pink because loves to copy his older sister and he genuinely loves blue for his own reasons.
My favourite colour is blue so maybe there is some influence there...in a reverse kind of way
But let's face it, girlie things just attract the eye more than boy type things.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
I'm a blue girl myself and I think girls should be able to wear a whole spectrum of colour, not just pink and heaven forbid, easily marked up white!
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Katyzzz you have made me laugh. I now have this image in my head of these little 3 year old boys running round in pink tutus playing cowboy and indians. LOL.
MelissaA you are so right it is most likely from deprivation of the colour that makes them want it more. It is very hard to find clothes for boys with pink in but I wouldn't be stopped from buying something if it did. I love your story of your friend and her little boys.
Mrs M girlie things are just prettier aren't they? I don't blame boys for wanting to wear or play with pink things. And Melissa has a good point it would be nice if it went the other way round for us girlies with there being more "boyish" colours for us girls.
Oh well.
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Recently I've been looking into dancing lessons for Callum. He's full of energy and loves to dance along to music and follow the dance steps on Your Cbeebeis Boogie Beebies.
I found a dance studio that is about a five minute walk from our home and costs £12 a month. Bargain! I asked for the welcome pack and registration form to be sent out so I could read up on it.
When the brochure turns up it has a whole section on dress attire, guess what it said?
Yep... pink tutus!! It did bring a smile to my face. When I get my voice back from this cold I've had I'll phone them up and see what they say for boys but still it was tempting to send Callum to disco dancing for toddlers in a pink tutu. LOL.
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts