The colour pink?

[pinkorno]

Hi!

just thought this would be a friendly debate or discussion point maybe?

do you consider pink an unprofessional colour, if so, why?

for example, I was recently told off at work for wearing pink because it’s unprofessional. But all other colours are ok (blue, purple, yellow etc) it’s just pink that’s a problem. Obviously pink is a colour that anyone can like but it’s traditionally in the past it’s been associated in our society as being linked to femininity/women/girls etc. I suppose it made me wonder, why is femininity therefore synonymous with unprofessional?

(I’m sitting here trying to write an important essay for work on something completely different and im just procrastinating and doing anything I can to avoid it lol so just thinking about all of this as a distraction haha)

just wondered what other people’s thoughts on it were? 🙂

Depends. Are we talking full legally blonde hot pink skirt suit or a pink shirt under a black suit? What is your job?

I don't think any colours are unprofessional if work correctly, as long as they're not going against the company you work for (e.g head to toe blue might be unprofessional to wear working at Man Utd!).

I wear pink often at work, I have pink nails 99% of the time, often a pink top, my pens + calculator are pink + several of my folders, I take pink handbags etc. I'd be totally shocked if someone considered me unprofessional for wearing a certain colour! I work in finance in an office based role, it's not appearance based work - I don't have anything on show I shouldn't have, so the colour of my outfit shouldn't matter at all!

It's so old fashioned to think only black or navy is professional. It's weird that purple and yellow would be considered fine at your job, but not pink!

haha, goodness no absolutely not. Just a pink chiffon top and black trousers. I don’t usually wear pink tbh but just wondered why it was associated with being unprofessional when all others are ok. Like I said, I’m procrastinating and my brain is desperate to find things to do other than work, lol. Was just mulling it all over I suppose.

Does that matter though? Would a green/blue/purple suit be questioned? I'm asking a genuine question not being snippey

Is it the brightness that's an issue? 🤔

What kind of work do you do that someone told you off about a colour?

I suppose that’s what I was wondering too. Is it the link to femininity that specifically makes pink unfavourable? (Like you, that’s not meant in a snipey way, just a general question I was mulling over!)

It's associated with femininity and women who are stereotyped to embody feminist traits that are typically stereotyped as warm but not competent. So pink is therefore seen to equate to lower competence. But this only applies to women wearing pink of course because men (at least white men) are more likely to be seen as competent and warm regardless of what they wear.

So women get told to wear more 'professional' colours but what this really means is try to trick people you are not feminine and more masculine so we can then berate you for beint a hard nosed bossy cow instead. You can't win.

I find it hard to believe a workplace has actually “told you off” for wearing pink and called it unprofessional.

The female CEO at my last job wore pink occasionally. Don’t think anyone would question her competence!

No it’s not unprofessional. Chiffon might be more of an issue. Is there a written dress code? If not, I don’t agree that pink should even have been mentioned. Maybe try a pink bra under a black chiffon top next time. Joke!

Shouldn’t matter.

Depends on your job doesn’t it? Head to toe pink in my job wouldn’t even attract attention, in DH’s job where sober corporate style is not just the norm, it’s a requirement, you’d be sent to find a different outfit.

That’s a great contribution, thank you very much.

Are you a funeral director?

Again is that just because men don't wear chiffon as a rule?

🤣

sounds a bit sexist, do any of the men wear pink shirts?

My first meeting with one of the senior managers in my department, she was wearing pink - something designer - and I was bowled over by her overall professional appearance and manner. That part of her outfit was pink only registered when I read your OP.

I have a lot of pink in my house. Some visitors have suggested it's slightly childish to have pink in the house as it reminds them of being a young girl. Personally I love it it goes well with most colours.

I have never heard of a workplace taking exception to a particular colour before. I can see why certain garments or styles might be inappropriate, but not a colour. Loads of men wear pink ties or shirts as well.

So my point was perhaps some people link it to being girly and child like. 🤷🏻‍♀️ but as I said I love the colour pink.

Lots of things associated with women are seen as “lesser”. Traditional women’s crafts (note, they are craft, not art) and traditional women’s jobs (why are cleaning and childcare deemed of less value than bricklaying?) amongst others.

If a yellow or green chiffon shirt of the same kind would be acceptable, then I think that, yes, your workplace is associating women’s things with a lack of professionalism.

And stop procrastinating and get on with your essay, FFS!

Misogyny in action

@sparepantsandtoothbrush Was it a man who told her off? See through is usually more of an issue than a colour. Depends on job though.

True though. Why would you make change for this post?