Growing up, I was taught the color rule of "Pink for girls and blue for boys." this is something that stayed with me and led me to understand color's relationship to gender. In second grade, I gave a speech on "Why pink is for girls" that my teacher wrote for me and it linked the color pink to gender based on physical characteristics like having pink nails, lips, and cheeks. Now that I think about it, it seems rather simplistic and out of date to associate a color with gender solely based on these physical characteristics. Understanding that colors do not inherently belong to any particular gender and that personal color preferences are diverse and individual. One might question colors become associated with gender...
Prior to World War 1, all babies were dressed in white gowns irrespective of gender, as it allowed for easy access to diaper exchange and could easily be bleached later.
Children also wore unisex clothing up to age 6-7. The following pic shows baby Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President in a gown! Moreover, kids wore white as we didn't assign a single color to a specific gender. It all started in the 19th century when pastel colors became the new white and the colors were first chosen on how they complimented the eyes and hair, blue was chosen to compliment blue eyes, whereas pink was chosen to compliment brown and brunette hair. Later, believe it or not, pink was associated with boys as it was considered a masculine color, and blue to girls due to its daintiness and feminity. In the 1940's manufacturers started making clothing that was color-coordinated for boys and girls. Girls were reassigned with pink, as they were considered emotional, and because pink was close to red- a romantic color- and women were seen as emotional beings. Women's liberation movement took place in 1960, there was ease again in color-coded and gender-specific clothing as women challenged the prevalent norms they said the colors led to assigned duties and restricted what women could achieve, so they decided to throw them out of the window. But, this was very short-lived, as new testing took rise that allowed parents to know the gender of their kids and parents were eager for that, and surely which the manufacturers took advantage of, so we were back to square one. The gender reveal parties became the new norm, which really reinforced the colors of gender.
People might think assigning colors to gender isn't so deep, but the answer wraps around the fact that assigning colors to gender is assigning them a role that they are supposed to grow up in.
The only two colors present show the two genders that can be there. It also assigns them certain roles, if you are a girl, you should like pink and have to be feminine, or else you will be considered a tomboy if you like blue. If you are a boy, you cannot like pink as it'll make you less manly and show you as weak. All this sets preferences and limits an individual. Children before being born are set to adapt to certain characteristics, in the baby shower for girls mostly flowers and unicorns would be seen, and for boys cars and elephants.
However, in recent years parents have become aware of the rigid norms that are associated with the colors and refuse to instill these color codes within their children, opening to more inclusive thinking. Many baby showers now are in colors like yellow or neutral tones as parents refuse to align color traditions with their kids. Moreover, as we progress, it is important to challenge these stereotypes as colors are meant to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of gender.
(this little girl, makes more sense than the adults present)