Pink = for girls, blue = for boys?… National Human Rights Commission "Color coding of infant products reinforces gender role stereotypes"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has expressed the opinion that the color differentiation of infant and toddler products based on gender can reinforce gender role stereotypes and that improvements are necessary.

On the 4th, the Human Rights Commission announced that it has expressed its opinion to infant and toddler product manufacturers, stating that it is necessary to improve by moving away from the method of color differentiation according to gender.

The civic group "Moms Making Politics" filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, arguing that infant and toddler product manufacturers reinforce gender role stereotypes in children by distinguishing gender with colors such as "pink for girls, blue for boys" regardless of function, and treating play kitchens as girls' toys.

In response, companies claimed, "Gender labeling on products was done for sales and distribution convenience, reflecting consumer preferences accustomed to the social and cultural practice of distinguishing gender by color." However, during the subsequent investigation by the Human Rights Commission, they stated plans to delete or improve gender labeling and discriminatory phrases, the Commission reported.

The Human Rights Commission explained, "Children learn gender role stereotypes such as women being weak and passive, and men being strong and proactive, based on social images associated with colors. These gender role stereotypes influence children's future behaviors, values, and career choices."

It further pointed out, "Through this process, children learn gender roles that conform to gender constructed by social and cultural practices, and are socialized by internalizing gender role stereotypes of 'femininity' and 'masculinity,' which results in the deepening of gender discrimination."

The Human Rights Commission stated, "Since gender differentiation in infant and toddler products has the effect of instilling gender role stereotypes, we judged that it is necessary for our society to move away from the method of color differentiation by gender and improve toward a 'gender-neutral' approach that does not distinguish gender but approaches the person themselves, and thus decided to express this opinion."

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