Feminist Rocker

Does Pink Stink?

Here’s a good article on the PinkStinks campaign. While I understand the intent and purpose of the campaign - I do find them to be problematic, for various reasons. First off, the name is very alienating to feminists who themselves love pink - but may otherwise sympathize with the overall purpose. Second of all, they seem to encourage girls to actually shun pink or other things coded feminine - as some of their tee-shirt slogans suggest.

I’m happy to see that there is more of a push back (within feminist circles) against the whole devaluing of pink and other things coded “feminine” - as well as the people who partake in them. Being anti-feminine is not feminist. Being anti-feminine is misogynist. I agree that little girls should not be pressured into being “princesses”, and they should not be pressured to declare pink as their favourite colour. However, there is nothing inherently wrong with liking pink and sparkly things. Women can still be strong and independent, while liking pink and sparkly.

Furthermore, the corollary to “little girls are pressured to like pink and sparkly things” is “little boys are pressured to shun pink and sparkly things” - but we rarely see the second part of this get addressed. In fact, the folks behind PinkStinks seem to be believe that liking pink and sparkly things can be just as dis-empowering to boys as it is to girls. However, pink and starkly things per se is not the problem - but, rather, what they represent in the marketing business. Besides, the boys who like pink and sparkly things are going to get enough grief from the gender role enforcement police. They don’t need to be getting it from the progressive folks who are supposed to be against the gender role enforcement police, as well.

I agree that men can’t really experience sexism - since, in this society, men hold the power. However, minor boys very much can be hurt by the gender role enforcement police - especially if they’re unfortunate enough to have parents that are unaccepting of boys having “feminine” interests. A grown man who wears pink shirts does have the luxury of saying to the man-bros: “Fuck you! I’ll wear whatever colour shirt I damn well please!” However, a minor boy who wants a pink balloon does not have the luxury of saying to his parents: “Fuck you! I’ll have whatever colour balloon I damn well please.” If the minor boy was to do that - he, more than likely, would be scolded or punished for that. That is, if his parents don’t do worse to him - such as sending him off to a correction facility.

No, the problem is not with things coded “feminine” per se. The problem is when those things are being pushed onto girls and denied to boys. Also, not every girl is 100% “girly-girl” or 100% “tomboy”. In fact, very few girls (if any) actually are. More girls tend to fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. To pit “tomboys” against “girly-girls” only serve to reinforce that false dichotomy. It also reinforces the belief that “feminine” is something to be ashamed of - which we already get enough of from our patriarchal society.

All in all, I find the PinkStinks campaign to be well-meaning but misguided. Eradicating pink is not the answer. De-stigmatizing it is.

Here’s another good article on the issues with the PinkStinks campaign. And this one.