How was the distinction between masculine and feminine colors originally decided?

Everything you may ever need to know about why Pink is for girls and Blue is for boys could probably be found here:

http://www.trivia-library.com/a/why-is-the-color-blue-used-for-boys-and-pink-for-girls.htm

http://hueconsulting.blogspot.com/2007/03/why-is-blue-for-boys-and-pink-for-girls.html

http://people.howstuffworks.com/gender-color.htm

http://shadmia.com/2007/08/21/pink-for-girls-blue-for-boys-why/

http://sensorymetrics.com/2008/12/04/pink-is-for-boys-blue-is-for-girls/

Er, until the early 20th century it was red—and pink, being a pastel version of red—that was the boys’ color.

http://histclo.com/Gender/color.html

I recently read something about this, but I can’t remember where. Seems cwilbur has a link though. Lurve to cwilbur.

Yeah, it was thought that red/pink was too strong a color for women, and blue was much softer and calmer, more appropriate.

Perhaps you’ll find your answer here.

@AstroChuck GREAT question ;)

Likewise.

And likewise, who decided it?

Pink is not feminine everywhere, nor i blue masculine. In Russia, light blue (often associated with little boys in the US) is the color of homosexuals. Actually, the word for light blue is the slang term for “gays”, much like pink is here in the US.

In many cultures, “dark colors” are usually associated with males, and “light” colors with females. Black, navy, dark green, brown, grey with men, pink, red, white, and pastel colors with women. I think it’s because in these cultures, men are expected to be strong, stable, and serious——and dark colors give that impression. Women are expected to be soft, delicate, light-hearted and sweet, and light colors imply those qualities.