Primary Colors

Bright colors have always attracted my attention, thank you Hasbro and Lisa Frank.  But, it's a Chicken vs. Egg situation. What came first, the marketing campaign aimed at girls, or the girls who inspired the marketing campaign?  Either way, I was a captive audience. (I still love gumball machines, even though gumballs are gross.) As a "cool" "jaded" New Yorker, my closet still implies that I visit my magical horses at Paradise Estate.  Well, I like colors, the brighter the better.

#buymelilly

On my morning commute, I noticed an advertisement that appealed to my love of all things Lilly Pulitzer.  Like many subway ads, it was for a medical trial.  I assumed this ad was saying, "Even preppy girls get the blues." As someone who dreams of the past where I spent my days in my best watermelon colored outfit, in the company of ponies, Legos, and Fisher-Price foods, the reality of bill paying, cleaning, and feeding myself can be a bit of bummer.  This ad was targeting me, a thirty something year old woman trying to Have it All, I met many of the ad's requirements. 

Then I had a realization.  No where in the ad did it mention seeking female volunteers.  It was my own assumption that because the ad was pink, it was looking for ladies.  Then came the moment where I realized I was part of a bigger problem, I believed that specific things, including depression, are for specific genders. 

I am well aware of the "princessification" of little girls, it is impossible to purchase a gift for anyone without it being pink or blue.  Popular toys are offered in colors that force girls to be obsessed with pink and glitter, and for certain toys to be for boys only.  

Ooo look, a fun little car.

But here is the literal PRINCESS version

sigh, the truck version...

 Even as an adult who loves pink and glitter, I am proud to say that I choose to be this way.  After all, preferring one color over another is just that, a preference.  I shouldn't be judged for it, or judge others for not liking it.  What I am worried about is today's toy aisles.  They are overwhelmingly full of items that teach girls that shopping and spa days are what define you as a human woman. (The boy's aisle's still sell cars, super heroes and bugs.) It's counter-intuitive from today's "Have it All!" mentality. 

a PINK school bus?!? WTF!

Even LEGO!!! OH THE BETRAYAL!!!!!

Society is slowly progressing into accepting gender identity as something deeper that the blue/pink divide, it would be great if our toy stores reflected that progress.  Maybe toy stores should allow kids to decide what color they like rather than tell them.  Then again, maybe it comes down to my own assumptions.  This might be one situation where I'd say that if thinking that pink is only for girls, than I'd like to be wrong!

All comments aside, do they make this in ADULT?