During our discussion about
“Cinderella Ate My Daughter”, our class mentioned the sustained association of
pink with not only femininity but also innocence, princesses, and childhood.
Even as we grow into adulthood the link between pink and purity remains, as
evident in our class discussion. As I left our class, I saw a girl walk by
while carrying a Victoria’s Secret shopping bag. Victoria’s Secret is the
biggest lingerie store in the US and has come to represent flirty sexuality.
This is a bag that I automatically associate with panties, bras, and all types
of glittery and frilly undergarments. Yet, what color is the bag? Not one but
two shades of pink!
If you’ve ever set foot into a
Victoria’s Secret store, you can testify to Victoria’s Secret’s love affair
with pink. From their logo to the price tags, everything is pink. It’s a store
filled with frills, sensuality, and promises of looking sexy (so much so that
“Very Sexy” is actually a line of bras and panties). Yet, from wall-to-wall,
ceiling-to-ceiling Victoria’s Secret has been highlighted with a pink marker.
And, of course, the most notable
pinkness of Victoria’s Secret is their PINK brand. Designed for a younger more
playful audience, PINK embraces the girly girl color. From panties and bras to
t-shirts and sweatpants, everything is labeled PINK. I just found it fascinating
that pale pink is often associated with innocence and sweetness and Victoria’s
Secret embraces that through their sexualized “younger” line of merchandise.
If we can agree that pink and
princess play can be a form of sexualization in childhood, I think it’s fairly
obvious to see how this trend continues into adulthood as women associate the
pink bags to “Sexy Little Things” (another line of intimates). I am in no way
saying that Victoria’s Secret is some horrible business and that they are
explicitly attempting to link pink and sex, but it is an interesting thing to
look at.
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