It’s a colour that conjures images of femininity. Of little girls with Barbie dolls in bright magenta dresses, and Disney princess Aurora in her flashy flamingo frock. Contrary to popular belief, however, it wasn’t always like that.
Yes, if gender reveal parties existed centuries ago, an explosion of salmon would’ve meant very little in a time when men lay claim to the colour pink as much as women.
As far back as the 17th and 18th Century, pink signified class and luxury. It was worn by the wealthy and powerful, boys and girls, though by the time Jay Gatsby donned a pink suit in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 classic novel The Great Gatsby, the colour had been demoted to a choice of the working class.
It wasn’t until post-World War II that a clear divide between the genders emerged. Pushed by major clothing outlets with grandiose marketing campaigns, it was decided that girls wore pink, and boys blue, driving a wedge between the genders that still exists today.
Before the turn of the 21st Century, a man wearing pink was seen to be making a bold fashion choice; a stand against the establishment as men looked to reclaim their flamboyant Renaissance hue.
Today though, a man wearing pink is not so much making a statement but increasingly the norm. Sure Messi wears pink playing for Inter Miami, The Rock rocks a pink blazer on the red carpet, and up and down Ireland, more and more male golfers are getting their pink on in aid of Breast Cancer Research.
The great news is, you can too.
The Play in Pink initiative returned to Irish fairways with a typically colourful splash in 2024 having raised over €550,000 last year. It’s a campaign that’s been spearheaded by Lady Captains across Ireland but also one that’s united the genders as the gents look to play their part for the crucial NBCRI research programme at the Lambe Institute, Galway.
Studies show that one in seven Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75, but this disease is far from just a woman’s fight. At such high rates, it’s inevitable that someone you know will be affected by it. A mother, sister, wife, child, aunt, niece, friend or neighbour, meaning you’ll be affected by it.
Thanks to Play in Pink, now it’s easier than ever for men to join that fight.
An ever-increasing number of men have been setting the fairways alight in their blushed garbs with plenty of time left in the season to sign up to one of the many Play in Pink outings taking place across the land.
By Playing in Pink, you’ll be directly contributing to the precious research being conducted by the Lambe Institute. Research that has already secured significant improvements in terms of diagnosis, treatment options and outcomes for breast cancer patients.
So what are you waiting for?
- To see the full schedule of Play in Pink Days remaining for 2024, CLICK HERE
- To join over 200 clubs and register for a Play in Pink Day, CLICK HERE
- For more information on Play in Pink, visit www.playinpink.com