A new scientific study finally backs up one of our culture’s most stubborn premises

There has been a long and steady rethink in gender identity over the last few decades. Feminist movements advocated for gender equality. Women began breaking through corporate glass ceilings. Couples’ roles in the home started to blend, even reverse…

As gender norms evolved, so too did ideas about sexuality. Today the topic is still hot: psychologists wonder about the imposition of gender identity on children through such items as toys and clothing…

A twist to the study is that there were two groups. The first was made up of British Caucasians. The second group were all Han Chinese from mainland China, recent arrivals in the U.K.

In China, the blue-pink distinction is far less entrenched. Deep reds are, in fact, the preferred colour, reflecting their “good luck.” So both genders displayed more preference for reds. But even here, Ling says, females “still prefer red more than males.” …

One way to settle the argument would be to examine the phenomenon in babies. But classifying baby responses is notoriously difficult. The scientists are, nonetheless, pursuing this avenue of research.

Source: Toronto Star, Canada
http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/249822