pink

Pink is a color often made by mixing red and white. It can be described as a light red, but it is more accurately a bright, undersaturated red. Pink can also be used to describe other colors, including some that are actually shades of magenta rather than red, such as fuchsia pink, Hollywood cerise and shocking pink. Some shades of pink such as Persian pink are actually shades of rose. Some shades of pink are actually shades of orange, such as coral pink. There are many different shades of pink. Thus, the term Pink may be used in general to describe a wide range of light orange, light red, light rose, and light magenta colors.

The use of the word "Pink" for colour first occurred in the 17th century to describe the light red flowers of pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus.

Pale Pink

At right is displayed the color Pale Pink, a light, desaturated shade of pink.

Pastel Pink

At right is displayed the color Pastel Pink. Pastel Pink is used to symbolize baby girls just as baby blue is used to symbolize baby boys.

At one point pink was considered more of a boy's color, (as a watered-down red, which is a fierce color) and blue was more for girls. The associate of pink with bold, dramatic red clearly affected its use for boys. An American newspaper in 1914 advised mothers, "If you like the color note on the little one's garments, use pink for the boy and blue for the girl, if you are a follower of convention." [The Sunday Sentinal, March 29, 1914.]

"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." [Ladies Home Journal, June, 1918]

Web color pink

At right is displayed the web color pink^[1].

This color is identical to the color Tamarisk, the color of the flowers of the Tamarisk plant^{citation needed]}.

Web color lightpink (Medium Pink)

At right is displayed the web color lightpink (no space)^[1]

However, if proper English usage regarding color nomenclature is to maintained, since this color is more saturated than "pink", it should really be called medium pink if the web color "pink" (shown above) is accepted as the standard for pink.

Cherry Blossom Pink

At right is displayed the color cherry blossom pink.

The source of this color is the Japanese Wikipedia article on Pink, accessible at left (listed as "Nipponese" in Japanese characters).

In Japan, this color is associated with a womans vagina, and therefore, in Japan, pornographic films are called pink movies.

Web color hotpink

At right is displayed the web color hotpink (no space)^[1]

Hot Pink is the shade of pink most closely associated with homosexuality because it is the color used in the pink triangle, a symbol of gay liberation.

Web color deeppink

At right is displayed the web color deeppink (no space)^[1].

Dark Pink

At right is displayed the color Dark Pink, a darker, desaturated shade of pink.

Shocking Pink

Shocking Pink, (also called neon pink) is bold and intense. Fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli invented this color in 1936, naming it shocking pink; it was the color of the box her perfume called Shocking Pink came in (the box was shaped like the torso of film star Mae West).

"This intense magenta was called shocking pink" in the 1930s, hot pink in the 1950s, and kinky pink in the 1960s...[it] has appeared in the vanguard of more than one youth revolution...to some it sings, to others it screams". ^[2] This color is now again called "shocking pink" to distinguish it from the web color hot pink (shown above). Its appearance is more akin to magenta than it is to traditional pink. This color has always been popular among the avant-garde.

The term Shocking Pink or Hot Pink is sometimes used as slang to describe female genitalia.

NHRA drag racer, Shirley Muldowney was famous for driving a shocking pink dragster.

On its way into the German language, shocking pink lost the "shocking" and is called only "Pink", while the English color "pink" is referred to as "Rosa". Meanwhile in Portuguese one of its nomenclatures arrived intact becoming "cor-de-rosa choque" ("shocking pink") used more frequently in Brazil. It's also called "çingene pembesi" (gypsy pink) in Turkish.

Shades of pink color comparison chart

• Pale Pink (Hex: #FADADD) (RGB: 250, 218, 221)
• Pig Pink (Crayola) (Hex: #FDD7E4) (RGB: 253, 215, 228)
• Pastel Pink (Hex: #FFD1DC) (RGB: 255, 209, 220)
• PINK (web color) (Tamarisk) (Hex: #FFCBDB) (RGB: 255, 192, 203)
• Cotton Candy (Crayola) (Hex: #FFB7D5) (RGB: 255, 183, 213)
• Medium Pink (web color "Light Pink") (Hex: #FFB6C1) (RGB: 255, 182, 193)
• Cherry Blossom Pink (Hex: #F6ADC6) (RGB: 246, 173, 198)
• Carnation Pink (Crayola) (Hex: #FFA6C9) (RGB: 246, 166, 201)
• Lavender Pink (Crayola color "Lavender [Pink]") - (Hex: #FBAED2) (RGB: 251, 174, 210)
• Lavender Rose (Hex: #FBA0E3) (RGB: 251, 160, 227)
• Japanese Pink (Hex: #ED9CDE) (RGB: 237, 156, 222)
• Light Fuchsia Pink (Pale Magenta) (Hex: #F984EF) (RGB: 249, 132, 229)
• Persian Pink (Hex: #F77FBE) (RGB: 247, 127, 190)
• Tickle Me Pink (Crayola) (Hex: #FC80A5) (RGB: 252, 128, 165)
• Mauvelous (Crayola) (Hex: #F091A9) (RGB: 240, 145, 169)
• Puce (Hex: #CC8899) (RGB: 204, 136, 153)
• Pale Violet Red (web color) (Hex: #DB7093) (RGB: 219, 112, 147)
• Light Carmine Pink (Hex: #E66761) (RGB: 230, 103, 97)
• Light Coral (web color) (Hex: #F08080) (RGB: 240, 128, 128)
• Coral Pink (Hex: #F88379) (RGB: 248, 131, 121)
• Salmon (web color) (Hex: #FA8072) (RGB: 250, 128, 114)
• Light Salmon Pink (Hex: #FF9999) (RGB: 255, 153, 153)
• Salmon Pink (Crayola "Salmon") (Hex: #FF91A4) (RGB: 255, 145, 164)
• Pink-Orange (Hex: #FF9966) (RGB: 255, 153, 102)
• Coral (web color) (Hex: #FF7F50) (RGB: 255, 127, 80)
• Carnation (Hex: #F95A61) (RGB: 249, 90, 97)
• Carmine Pink (Hex: #EB4C42) (RGB: 235, 76, 66)
• Deep Carmine Pink (Hex: #EF3038) (RGB: 239, 48, 36)
• Watermelon (Hex: #D8424F) (RGB: 216, 66, 79)
• Light Watermelon (Wild Watermelon [Crayola]) (Hex: #F05B78) (RGB: 253, 91, 153)
• Brink Pink (Crayola) (Hex: #FB607F) (RGB: 251, 96, 127)
• Dark Pink (web color) (Hex: #E75480) (RGB: 234, 84, 128)
• Cranberry (Crayola) - (Hex: #DB5079) (RGB: 219, 80, 127)
• French Rose (Hex: #F64A8A) (RGB: 246, 74, 138)
• Violet Red (Crayola) (Hex: #F7468A) (RGB: 247, 70, 138)
• Hot Pink (web color)(Hex: #FF69B4) (RGB: 255, 105, 180)
• Brilliant Rose (Crayola "Magenta") (Hex: #F653A6) (RGB: 246, 83, 166)
• Wild Strawberry (Crayola) - (Hex: #FF3399) (RGB: 255, 51, 153)
• Deep Pink (web color) (Hex: #FF1493) (RGB: 255, 20, 147)
• Bengal Rose (Bangladeshi Rose) (Hex: #EC1D6D) (RGB: 236, 29, 109)
• Cerise Pink (Hex: #EC3B83) (RGB: 236, 59, 131)
• Cerise (Hex: #DE3163) (RGB: 218, 49, 99)
• Vivid Cerise (Hex: #DA1D81) (RGB: 218, 29, 129)
• Deep Cerise (Crayola Cerise) (Hex: #DA3287) (RGB: 218, 50, 135)
• Hollywood Cerise (Fashion Fuchsia) (Hex: #F400A1) (RGB: 244, 0, 161)
• Persian Rose (Hex: #FF1CB1) (RGB: 255, 28, 177)
• Shocking Pink (Hex: #FC0FC0) (RGB: 252, 15, 192)
• Razzle Dazzle Rose (Crayola) (Hex: #FF33CC) (RGB: 255, 51, 204)
• Fuchsia Pink (Light Magenta) (Hex: #FF77FF) (RGB: 255, 119, 255)
• Ultra Pink (Crayola) (aka Crayola "Shocking Pink") (Hex: #FF6FFF) (RGB: 255, 111, 255)
• Pink Flamingo (Crayola) (Hex: #FF66FF) (RGB: 255, 102, 255)
• Brilliant Magenta (Hex: #FF55FF) (RGB: 255, 85, 255)
• Bright Magenta (Hex: #FF33FF) (RGB: 255, 51, 255)
• Hot Magenta (aka Purple Pizzaz) (Crayola) (Hex: #FF00CC) (RGB: 255, 0, 204)
• T-Mobile Magenta (Hex: #E4238E) (RGB: 228, 35, 142)

Pink in human culture

Thinking about pink

• Pink is used to describe a range of colors, from shades of red to the more popularly used shades comprised of both red and purple.

• Pink can mean the scarlet coat worn in fox hunting (a.k.a. "riding to hounds"). One legend about the origin of this meaning refers to a tailor named Pink (or Pinke, or Pinque).

• The leader in the Giro d'Italia cycle race wears a pink jersey (maglia rosa); this reflects the distinctive pink-colored newsprint of the sponsoring Italian La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

• Similarly, the London Financial Times newspaper has, since 1893, used a distinctive salmon pink color for its newsprint, mainly as a way to distinguish itself from competitors. In other countries, the salmon press identifies economic newspapers or economics sections in "white" newspapers.

• In Catholicism, pink symbolizes joy and happiness. It is used for the Third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of joy for the impending birth of Jesus. However, in some Protestant denominations, the pink candle is sometimes lit on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love.

• Pink, along with red, is traditionally used on maps for territory ruled by the British Empire or for members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Pink, being a 'watered-down' red, is sometimes used in a derogatory way to describe a person with mild communist or socialist beliefs (see Pinko).

• In maps of political parties in Portugal, pink is used to represent the Socialist Party.

• The staff at Kandersteg International Scout Centre wear bright pink t-shirts and sweatshirts as a uniform. This has given them the name Pinkies. The color is used because it was either Baden-Powell's favourite color, or because it is the only color not to currently appear in a National Flag, thus reflecting a truly international staff team.

• "Paint the Town Pink" a phrase that arose in the 1950s reflecting its influence on fashion and design and the popularity of pastel colours.

• The Chicago Transit Authority recently debuted the Pink Line light rail service.

Pink in gender and sexuality

• The color pink is now associated with womanhood and little girls, just like light blue is associated with little boys and manhood. However, in 1918 "Infant's Department" (an industry publication) said the reverse was the "generally accepted rule", describing pink as "more decided and stronger" while blue was "more delicate and dainty" [1]. Pink continued to be used for both boys' and girls' clothing through the early 1960s, though it is becoming more and more associated with femininity. For example, Carrie from Sex and the City often wears pink dresses. Pink is also the signature color for Elle from the Legally Blonde movie series.

• The color pink also has an association with female genitalia. Used as a slang term to refer to female genitalia.

• Pink is the color of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. Pink was chosen partially because it is so strongly associated with femininity.[2]

• Some feminists have decried the color pink,^{citation needed]} along with dresses and skirts, as something related to the pre-feminism "old-style female", which they view as a symbol of the oppression and limitations of that era. Although this trend persists, the current wave of feminism advocates choice, and many women have sought to reclaim aspects of the old-style female, including pink (and indeed dresses and skirts), as something to be proud of. For example, the Swedish radical feminist party Feminist Initiative uses pink as its colour.

• Pink is also associated with gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, often in the form of a pink triangle. This symbolic usage stems from the symbols used by the Nazis to label their prisoners in the concentration camps [3]. Where Jews were forced to wear the familiar yellow stars of David, and Roma people were forced to wear a black triangle; men imprisoned on accusations of homosexuality or same-sex sexual activity were forced to wear a pink triangle. Nowadays, it is often worn with pride. A Dutch newsgroup about homosexuality is called nl.roze, roze being the Dutch word for pink. In Britain, Pink News is a leading gay newspaper and online news service. In business, the pink pound or pink dollar refers to the spending power of the GLBT community. Advertising agencies call the gay market the Pink Economy. There is a magazine called Pink for the GLBT community which has different editions for various metropolitan areas [4]. Sometimes the expression That is as gay as pink tea is used when someone or something reminds one of homosexuality. (The only tea that is actually pink is herbal hibiscus tea, which is appropriate since Hibiscus was the person who founded the popular gay liberation theatre troupe the Cockettes on 31 December 1969 in San Francisco). (See also lavender for its GLBT associations.)

• In 1993, artist Gioia Fonda created a conceptual piece in the form of a week long holiday called "pink week". The intention of pink week is to liberate the color pink from all dogma and simply celebrate the color pink as a color. Although the artist acknowledges that it is nearly impossible for most people in our culture not to associate certain meanings with certain colors, she hopes that we can let pink, and all colors for that matter, be just colors for one week a year. To participate, simply appreciate the optical qualities of the color pink. While you're at it, slow down, appreciate and consider the particular qualities of every item, person and place. Pink week is usually celebrated by wearing pink clothing, eating pink foods and looking for pink items in your everyday life. It is also celebrating many many other ways, to numerous to list here. For those that don't like pink, pink week can be celebrated through abstinence, that is, avoiding the color pink for the entire week. It can also be appropriate to ruminate upon another color for the week, and still be celebrating pink week. Pink week occurs each year the second full week of November. Celebrations often include gallery shows of pink art, pink dinner parties and pink parades.

Pink in pop culture

• P!nk is an American singer-songwriter
• While the Anglosphere typically refers to adult films as "blue movies", in Japan these films are often called "pink movies". They are associated with females and generally carry a connotation of feminine, innocent, childlike, qualities. Cherry blossoms tend to show pink, so this relation may be hinted at in anime. Pink also carries a connotation of sexuality in Japan. This may be because of pink's association with women, or from the pink hue of flesh, the pink hue of a blush, or any number of such reasons.
• In Spanish, a novela rosa ("pink novel") is a sentimental novel aiming to women, in which a heroine lives a passionate love.
• The titles of the episodes of the animated series of The Pink Panther Show included the word pink.
• Pink is also the subject of a song by Aerosmith that emphasizes sexual innuendo. Among other lines, one is "Pink is like red but not quite."
• Tim Hines's shoes are spray painted bright pink constantly
• Paris Hilton says her favorite color is pink.
• There is a show called Pinky and the Brain, where Pinky is named after the color pink ^{citation needed]}.
• "Think Pink!" is a song about fashion color trends, from Funny Face.
• "Think Pink" is also the name of a bath bomb from Lush.
• In Power Rangers and Super Sentai, most seasons feature a Pink Ranger, who is always female. In Mirai Sentai Timeranger, later Americanized into Power Rangers Time Force, the Pink Ranger is the leader of the team (a position usually held by Red Rangers).
• "Pink" is a line of loungeware clothing carried by Victoria's Secret.
• Pink is Shelby's (Julia Roberts) "signature color" in Steel Magnolias.
• Pink's hot dogs [[5]]