Yvonne: Hello – I’m Yvonne Archer, this is “6 Minute English” – and thanks to Rob for joining me today.
Rob: It’s good to be here, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Great. Rob – how do you feel about the colour pink?
Rob: Pink? Well, it’s not my colour but my four-year-old daughter loves it.
Yvonne: Well, she’s got good taste because pink is the colour of choice for today’s programme. But before we find out why, it’s time for today’s question. Are you ready, Rob?
Rob: I’m ready and waiting!
Yvonne: Good. In 1918, according to an article that appeared in The Ladies’ Journal, what was thought to be the most suitable colour for girls? Was it
A) red
B) pink or
C) blue
Rob: Hmm…
Yvonne: a) red, b) pink or c) blue
Rob: I guess as we’re talking about pink, I’d say pink.
Yvonne: As usual, I’ll have the answer for you later on in today’s “6 Minute English”! Now, recently, a BBC Radio 4 programme called “Fight the Power of Pink” investigated why little girls have a preference for the colour pink, like young Imogen. She spoke to the BBC Breakfast team about her love of pink.
Insert 1: Imogen
It’s not really an obsession, it’s when you like, look at it, you feel like, quite dizzy and you go on day dreaming. It’s like you’re in heaven!
Yvonne: Imogen says her love of pink isn’t really ‘an obsession’ – she’s not so passionate about it that she doesn’t have time for any other interests. But looking at pink has a physical effect on her.
Rob: Yes, Imogen says she feels quite ‘dizzy’ – weak and shaky as though she might faint. So, pink has quite a dramatic effect on her, doesn’t it?
Yvonne: It definitely does, Rob. It gets her daydreaming – but what does she mean by ‘daydreaming’?
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Rob: Well, she imagines things and situations and can’t concentrate or focus on what’s actually happening around her.
Yvonne: For example, a little girl might be thinking about having a big pink wedding instead of thinking about her school work. So everything would be pink at her wedding, everyone would be dressed in pink, including the men and boys…
Rob: You wouldn’t catch me wearing pink!
Yvonne: Oh no, Rob! I bought you a pink shirt for your birthday.
Rob: Oh no. Have you got the receipt?
Yvonne: Hmm – I’d better take it back! Anyway, we might be thinking that a preference for pink is only a problem for parents’ bank accounts.
Rob: Yes, buying all those pink goods could be very costly for us parents. My daughter has convinced us to buy a pink doll’s house.
Yvonne: No! How expensive was that?
Rob: Very expensive.
Yvonne: But a child’s firm belief that pink is only for girls can also lead to more serious problems. Here’s BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt with a story from a viewer:
Insert 2: Charlie Stayt, BBC Breakfast
Mrs Davies got in touch, she’s in Kent, she says: “My 4-year old grandson refused to take his antibiotic medicine given by his doctor because it was pink! He said pink was for girls. He was really upset.”
Yvonne: As we heard, Mrs Davies’ four-year old grandson refused to take his antibiotic medicine. He didn’t want to take it even though he was quite ill.
Rob: No, he believes that anything pink is for girls, even medicine – so that can be difficult for parents and perhaps dangerous in some cases.
Yvonne: That’s true – but in this case, I’m happy to say that he did finally did take his medicine. Well, Greg Hodge, a research director, says that businesses certainly make use of the fact that children generally believe that anything pink is only for girls.
Insert 3: Greg Hodge, Research Director
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