Gender

Research has shown that color preferences can vary between men and women in British and Chinese subjects. While they found some trends—such as women tending to prefer warmer colors and men leaning towards cooler ones—these preferences are not fixed by gender.^[1] Instead, they are heavily influenced by cultural and societal factors. For example, the association of pink with girls and blue with boys became popular in the 1940s due to deliberate marketing efforts, rather than any inherent biological preferences. Over time, these colors became culturally linked to gender, reinforcing the bias.

However, color preferences are more complex and influenced by factors such as cultural background, personal experiences, and societal norms. For instance, Chinese men in the same study showed a preference for red due to its cultural significance, not gender. This highlights that color choices are shaped by a mix of cultural influences and individual experiences, not just gender. As awareness grows, some companies are moving away from traditional color associations, recognizing the diversity of consumer preferences.