When her five-year-old daughter insisted on a wardrobe of head-to-toe pink and would only play with toys that were the color of Pepto-Bismol, JeongMee Yoon didn’t tear her hair out like some modern moms might have. Instead, she was inspired to create The Pink & Blue Project, a photo series that explores the omnipresent (albeit more recently-born than you might realize) link between color and gender. What she found, while not all that surprising, makes for some extremely fascinating sociological eye candy.
“This phenomenon is widespread among children of various ethnic groups, regardless of their cultural backgrounds,” Yoon explained to Feature Shoot. “Perhaps it is the influence of pervasive commercial advertisements aimed at little girls and their parents, such as the universally popular Barbie and Hello Kitty merchandise that has developed into a modern trend. Girls train subconsciously and unconsciously to wear the color pink in order to look feminine.”
Click through for a selection of her photos of little girls surrounded by all of their pink belongings, and if you require a quick chaser, head over to her website to check out their blue-loving male counterparts.
SeoWoo and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2006. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Dayeun and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2007. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Tess and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2006. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Yealin Ham and Her Pink Things. Light jet print, 2005. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Lauren & Carolyn and Their Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2006. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Alexandra and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2006. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Emily and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2005. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Kara-Dayeoun and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2008. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Lola and Her Pink & Purple Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2006. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon
Jiseon and Her Pink Things from The Pink Project. Light jet print, 2008. Photo credit: JeongMee Yoon