Colors For Boys and Girls, and How They Affect Gender

In our culture there are basic colors for boys and girls. Pink is the classic color for a baby girl and blue, the classic color for a baby boy. Why is this? Is there some scientific meaning why? Or do we just assume that all girls have to like pink and all boys have to like blue, and that this is it. Many researchers have found that there are differences between genders in preferences for colors. In 1934 Guilford did an investigation on the harmony of color combination and how a person reacts to the colors and the colors balanced with their opposites. He found out that a person is more likely to see balance in colors that are closely related to their opposite. Guilford also found out that more pleasing results were obtained from either very small or very large differences in hue rather than medium differences, with this tendency more frequent in women than men. In 1926 a study showed that yellow had a higher affect on men than on women. A 1938 study found that blue stands out more for men that for women. Jastrow who also showed that men prefer blue and woman red also found this out in 1897. In 1959 Guilford and Smith’s study found that men were more tolerant towards achromatic colors than women do. They then proposed that therefore woman might be more color conscious and that their color tastes can be more flexible. Blue-green was favored more by woman as well as tints of colors instead of shades.
So why are baby colors so definite? Well apparently pastel blue for boys and pastel pink for girls is a more “new” thing, since the 40’s. Before the 40’s pink was considered appropriate and more masculine and “decided” for boys, while blue was dainty and delicate and therefore appropriate for girls. But now pink has become a woman’s color, perhaps because of the shades of red being more pleasing to woman, and vive-versa for men with blue.

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

There are many different colors of roses. For centuries people have been giving meaning to the different colors of roses. Here are what the different colors of roses mean. Red: Love, Beauty, Courage and Respect, Romantic Love, Congratulations, "I Love You", "Job Well Done", Sincere Love, Respect, Courage & Passion. Red (Dark): Unconscious beauty. Red (Single): "I Love You". Deep Burgundy: Unconscious Beauty. White: Purity, Innocence, Silence, Secrecy, Reverence, Humility, Youthfulness, "I am worthy of you", Heavenly. Pink: Appreciation, "Thank you", Grace, Perfect Happiness, Admiration, Gentleness, "Please Believe Me". Dark Pink: Appreciation, Gratitude, and "Thank You". Light Pink: Admiration, Sympathy, Gentleness, Grace, Gladness, Joy, and Sweetness. Yellow: Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Delight, Promise of a new beginning, Welcome Back, Remember Me, Jealousy, and "I care". Yellow with Red Tip: Friendship, Falling in Love. Orange: Desire, Enthusiasm. Red and White: Given together, these signify unity. Red and Yellow: Jovial and Happy Feelings.
Peach: Appreciation, Closing the deal, Let's get together, Sincerity, and Gratitude. Pale Peach: Modesty. Coral: Desire. Lavender: Love at first sight, Enchantment. Orange: Enthusiasm, Desire, and Fascination
Black * Death, Farewell
Blue * the unattainable, the impossible
Single in any color Simplicity, Gratitude
Red Rosebud: Symbolic of purity and loveliness
White Rosebud: Symbolic of girlhood
Thornless Rose: "Love at first sight". Wow who knew a single rose could mean so much??

The Colors of Our Flag

The flag of the United States of America is red, white, and blue. But why were these particular colors chosen for our flag?? Why not some other colors?? In the book “Our Flag” by the House of Representatives the colors for the flag when it was first created in 1777 were not thought about. But is says then in 1782 the colors of the Great Seal of the United States, were the same colors as our flag and that the colors for the Great Seal stood for, white: purity and innocence; red: hardiness and valor; and blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice. As we know the 50 white stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that rebelled against England. The Starred blue canton is considered the “Union”. George Washington stated, "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty.”

So I then was wondering what some of the other flags that are the same colors as our flag, what those colors stand for, for those countries. In France the flag is a tricolor flag, with one panel blue, then white and then red. The blue and red seem to signify the city of Paris, and the white represented the colors of the King. This was created during the time of the French Revolution. During the revolution the militaries distinct sign was the ancient colors of Paris- blue and red. Louis XVI came to Paris on July 17, 1789 to honor the National Guard and he wore the colors blue and red in a cockade, the Commander of the Guard then added white for royalty. So that is how the colors of France began.

How about the English flag. The flag of England is referred to as the Union flag or Union Jack. It’s colors are also red, white, and blue. The current flag, which came about on January 1st, 1801, merges the kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain together. The red saltire cross is the cross of St. Patrick for Ireland. The saltire cross in white is St. Andrew’s cross for Scotland. And then the thicker red cross that goes over the white and thin red cross (that look more like X) is St. George’s cross, which represents England. The Blue background is blue for royalty.