Cultural Components of Sex Differences in Color Preference

Preferences for pink and blue were tested in children aged 4-11 years in three small-scale societies: Shipibo villages in the Peruvian Amazon, kastom villages in the highlands of Tanna Island, Vanuatu, and BaYaka foragers in the northern Republic of Congo; and compared to children from an Australian global city (total N = 232). No sex differences were found in preference for pink in any of the three societies not influenced by global culture (ds - 0.31-0.23), in contrast to a female preference for pink in the global city (d = 1.24). Results suggest that the pairing of female and pink is a cultural phenomenon and is not driven by an essential preference for pink in girls.

Automated summary

The study compared preferences for pink and blue among children aged 4-11 years in different societies, and found that in societies not influenced by global culture, there were no gender differences in preference for pink. However, in a global city, females showed a stronger preference for pink. This suggests that the association between females and pink is a cultural phenomenon rather than an inherent preference in girls.