Question

A 1918 article from the trade publication Earchshaw's Infants' Department said "the generally accepted rule is pink for the boys and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." Which social science theorist would be most interested in this research about sex and gender?

Answer 1

Carol Gilligan, known for her theory of moral development and gender, would be most interested in the historical assignment of pink to boys and blue to girls related to gender socialization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social science theorist who would be most interested in research about sex and gender, particularly the association of pink with boys and blue with girls in historical contexts, is Carol Gilligan. Gilligan's theory of moral development and gender explains how societal norms influence the development of moral reasoning differently for boys and girls. Moreover, this directly aligns with how gender socialization practices contribute to the enforcement of gender norms, as highlighted in the work of sociologists like Michael Kimmel and the studies mentioned by Caldera, Huston, and O'Brien regarding toy preferences. Gender theorist and scholars interested in how gender roles are reinforced through play, and other societal expectations would find this historical shift in gender color association highly relevant.