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I am a kindergarten Spanish Teacher. I have to say that when I make the children sit boy-girl-boy-girl that it is usually blue-pink-blue-pink. Not that there is anything wrong with these specific color choices, it just makes one think... why is there an assigned color to our kids even without the school uniform?
Is it a big deal that girls are dressed and pink and boys in masculine colors? Why are they assigned at such a young age certain colors to wear? What is the social significance of breaking these colors? I understand when there are newborn babies, the attempt to avoid embarassment in having someone mistake your freshly newborn kid as the opposite gender leads to parents hurridley dressing their non-speaking blobs in dresses decorated with lace and flowers and headbands on their bald heads. The little male blobs get dark colors with masculine prints or at least tigers and sporty shoes. Heaven forbid they get dressed in the Vikings cheerleader costume rather than the current quarter back's jersey. WHY?
Is there still a fear that dressing the kids in the wrong color or outfit will "turn them gay" ? Is it just because thats what all the self-righteous friends bought the mother at the baby shower? I am not sure. Before the children even know what they are, a boy or a girl, we make it clear by the outfits we dress them in and I wonder how much socialization it really produces. I fully admit that the boys are more active and making gun noises in my classes and that the girls are more affectionate and want to cuddle up next to me, but is it because of nature or nurture? And is it really a bad thing to have them already fulfilling these roles as masculine/feminine at such a young age.
I would say its not, until it becomes limiting. For example a girl in a dress, might be told not to get it dirty or a boy may be told that he's a tough little guy when he's crying for his mom. We do these things to our children without even thinking about it. When I seperate the boys from the girls to play a game, what am I saying to them exactly? You have so much more in common with this group little one only because you are girls and they are boys? Don't we all remember the one girl that only hung out with the boys on the play ground, dressed like a boy, ate lunch with the boys and then felt awkward only at moments in the locker room or in games like those in my classroom when I seperate them by their gender?
Clothing is one of the most old-school ways to enforce gender-normative behavior. If you put girls in clothes that are less functional for active play, and continually scold them for getting dirty it begins to influence their self-concept which continues later in life.
Interesting random fact, before World War II pink was the color for boys because pink and red are considered agressive colors and blue is passive because it is a cool color. More here.