My son’s favourite colour is blue, mainly because Thomas the Tank Engine is blue and because he has blue eyes. However, he also loves a variety of other colours and is equally happy having pink items as blue, green, yellow, purple etc.
Last summer, after painting one wall in his room blue with white cloud shelves (to match his Ikea lightshade, which looks like the sky with clouds), he asked for another wall in his room to be painted pink. There was no way I was going to just paint it pink, I know what 3 year olds are like and they change their minds frequently! So I waited another month and he was still asking for another wall to be painted pink and not green or yellow. My husband wasn’t so sure as pink is considered a girly colour, but we’ve brought our boys up to like whatever they want to and if that is a different colour to what is expected of their gender then so be it!
There’s no good reason why all girl’s things are now pink, I’ve always disliked pink myself and refused to wear much of it as a child, I preferred blue. I have nothing against the colour itself, it’s nice and bright (and I love bright colours!), but I have always hated the ‘girlyness’ of it. I hated barbies, frilly things and hearts everywhere, it just wasn’t me. Don’t get me wrong I loved dolls, just not the ones that were all pink, shoes, bags etc., I was most definitely a tomboy and loved taking my Playground Kids (anyone else remember them?!) outside to have adventures.
I know a lot of people might gasp at the idea of painting a boys room pink, but I think we should all just take a step back, it’s just a colour, it’s a colour that my son likes and it makes his room lovely and happy and bright. Having a pink wall will not make him ‘gay’, if we find out when he’s older that he’s gay, it won’t be because I painted a wall pink or let him wear pink, it’s because that is who he is, it’s not something you can change.
Recently I was out shopping for my 1 year old’s first pair of shoes and was very disappointed in the range of shoes. The boys were navy, black and brown, with one red pair. The girl’s were all pink and purple. Why can’t we have a range of colours in both gender’s shoes and colours, surely most small children like bright colours, that’s why their toys are always so colourful! My son really liked the look of a pair of purple suede’y’ shoes with turquoise patches, they were very cute and easily unisex. Despite this I got a funny look from the sales person when he went to check sizes. Unfortunately they didn’t go down to a size 4, the only shoes my son could choose from were a brown pair or a navy pair, neither of which he showed much interest in. I really wish we could go back to the days when boys and girls could wear a variety of colours and not just pink for girls and dark colours for boys. Do you agree?
J x
Lissa says
Great post. I totally agree. My son’s favourite colour is orange, followed by purple/green (these alternate). I used to get so frustrated when it came to buying clothes (and shoes too) that were so boring : Blue, dark blue, grey, dark green or black. I actively seek out turquoise, bright purple, orange, bright green , red etc and he loves it.
The blue/pink divide is the stuff of nonsense – as you say, it’s just a colour. Why do so many people get their knickers in a twist about boys choosing pink? x
Jenny Eaves says
Exactly! Let kids have a choice of all colours and not restricted to colours for genders, such a silly idea! 🙂
christina says
I’ve always equated seeing color to seeing joy. For example my husband is color blind, so I always wonder if he can experience the joy of a beautiful sunset the way I do.
Maybe that’s silly, i don’t know.
But to me it sounds like your son sees color, and sees joy. 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you, I like that! 🙂 x
Lisa (mummascribbles) says
Fab post – children have absolutely no idea of the colour stereotyping and it’s lovely to see that you have gone with his decision to want his colour paint. I have to say it looks like a fab shade of pink 🙂 Thanks for linking up with #twinklytuesday
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks! It really brightens up his room, I love how it looks! 🙂 x
Brighton Mama @ Our Seaside Baby says
What a great read. Couldn’t agree more! I have a 20 month old little boy who loves trucks, wheels and lego but also loves his pink toy pushchair & his doll as well as all his other toys. Had to buy him a new bib and the only one they had left was pink so that’s what he wears – some people have commented on it or thought he was a girl – but it’s silly. I don’t agree with gender stereotyping and the whole blue vs pink thing, any colour should be for anyone. I totally agree on the shoes too – mostly just blue and brown, very boring compared to the girls shoes. Lets start a colour revolution 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
Ooh yes, a colour revolution would be great! All colours for all children! It’s ridiculous isn’t it, my son had a green bib and a pink bib (he hated bibs and didn’t wear them long)but I couldn’t care less what colour they were! 🙂 x
Alice Young says
The colour/gender debate strikes again. Its so tough because I guess I do subject my daughter Amelia to it without even doing it on purpose. But when she’s old enough to choose things for herself if she wanted something it wouldn’t be a matter for the colour! So what if he wants a pink bedroom! I had a green and blue bedroom as a child..guess that makes me a boy haha!! Thankyou so much for linking up and hope to see you again tomorrow! Sorry I’m late this week has been crazy. Thanks again! #MummyMonday xx
Jenny Eaves says
Yes, I love blue and green, but it’s so hard to find pink in the boys sections of shops. I love his pink wall, not what I would paint the rest of our house, but it brightens up his room so much! 🙂 x