By Alyssa Crutcher

In the many colors an artist holds on their palette to be brushed across the canvas, there is one color that always seems to stand out: pink. With so many different shades to choose from, pink has made its statement throughout hundreds of years from ancient artwork and fashion to modern decor and politics. Although the color itself is simple, the history and power it holds today is complex and rich.

Over the years, the color pink has evolved from just a pretty color in the late 17th century to a political statement in the modern day. When the color first became popular, it was worn by both men and women — traditionally viewed as masculine — boys and girls, and painted on the walls of several houses and other buildings. For children, the color pink was associated with boys while blue was associated with girls.

As society advanced, though, so did the color pink. In the 18th and 19th centuries, pink started to symbolize romanticism and was often seen worn by only women in clothing and accessories. When we reached the 20th century, pink became a cultural phenomenon.

The emergence of consumer culture and mass production during the early 20th century led to the widespread use of pink in a variety of consumer products, especially toys and baby items. Pink became closely associated with purity and youth, further solidified by marketing strategies that emphasized pink as a color for girls. Because of this, many girls, such as Janine Parry, a University of Arkansas political science professor, grew up rejecting the color pink, believing that liking the color meant they were weak and girly. It was interpreted as a negative thing.

“I would say that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found strength in numbers with the generations of women around me,” Parry said. “I love watching it being reclaimed as a source of strength, not a sign of weakness. Because when you accept it as a sign of weakness, you’re using masculinity and traditional versions of masculinity as the standard, and that’s not healthy for anyone. I mean, ask Ken (character from “Barbie” (2024)). It wasn’t serving him well — his little experiment.”

Sohana Nasrin, a professor at the University of Tampa, said she hated the color pink when she was young. She experienced a lot of pressure from her family to wear pink clothing and up until her adulthood, always avoided wearing it. But now, she has learned to see pink with new eyes.

“I realized that it’s stupid,” Nasrin said. “My worth as a woman should not have anything to do with any color that I choose to wear. So I’ve gotten over that. I have embraced pink.”

In the latter half of the 20th century, there was a wide array of interpretations of the color pink in popular culture. From the famous Barbie doll, who always wore her iconic pink outfit, to the punk movement’s rebellious adoption of neon pink as a symbol of defiance, this color acquired various connotations and symbolisms.

Now, in the 21st century, the color is continuing to evolve, covering a wide variety of meanings and holding an array of symbolism. With what some may call a fifth wave of feminism, gender norms are being challenged now more than ever, and pink is at the forefront of the movement, encompassing self-expression and empowerment for all genders.

With 2024 being an election year, women’s issues are at the top of the ballot. Although red and blue generally encompass political viewpoints, pink seems to be showing its true colors in this year’s political landscape, leaving a lasting impression in the political sphere like never seen before. It is moving beyond its usual connection with femininity and becoming a part of political discussions, from campaign rallies to social media campaigns.

Nasrin said she thinks the revival of the color pink in protests is largely due to former president Donald Trump’s various misogynist remarks and accusations of sexual violence against women. She also thinks the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 lit a fire beneath feminists all over the United States. 

“It does not matter what political aisle you belong to,” Nasrin said. “I think it’s fundamentally a woman’s issue, and many women are actually even thinking of changing the party lines just so they can make sure that they have abortion-related care.”

Pink’s political symbolism is exemplified by its use by different candidates and parties to convey inclusivity and progressiveness. In a time when social justice issues are at the forefront, the color pink has emerged as a powerful symbol of support for marginalized communities, such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color.

“In the contemporary era, pink has come to mean female — not just feminine,” Parry said. “And that’s a really important signal for politicians to read correctly. Because since the 1980s, women have been more likely to vote than men have been. So this is obviously a demographic group to which they want to be appealing.”

At the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C., hundreds of thousands of women gathered wearing a common clothing item: pink pussyhats. Made with pink yarn and featuring elements that resembled cat ears, the hats served as a symbol of solidarity among protestors. Lately, topics such as reproductive rights, healthcare accessibility and gender pay equality have taken center stage in political discussions, with pink being utilized as a symbol of solidarity for these movements. 

Parry said the Women’s March was the first time she had seen the color pink reappropriated to mean strong and feminist. From the ‘60s to the ‘90s, women tended to stay away from anything particularly feminine to not stand out as much due to their sex or gender, she said. 

“I think it speaks to the strength of the feminist movement and of women as a voting block,” Parry said, “that they feel their leaders feel confident and comfortable enough to mobilize in such an overtly gendered way.”

Nasrin said the march was a pivotal moment for pink to become an important color in political protests. It became a symbol of love and care, and with the influence of many political women such as Hillary Clinton wearing pink pant suits and celebrities such as Amy Schumer and Kerry Washington following suite, the color took on a new role as not just feminine, but as an allusion to strength and loud voices from people who have spent so long being silenced.

“It’s a color of love, but with an attitude,” Nasrin said.

As the 2024 election season progresses, the future trajectory of pink as a political symbol remains uncertain. Its role as a representation of progressivism may persist, or it could be overshadowed by emerging symbols and narratives. Nevertheless, it is evident that the color pink has firmly solidified its position as a formidable presence in the dynamic realm of politics.