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Law in Contemporary Society
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It is strongly recommended that you include your outline in the body of your essay by using the outline as section titles. The headings below are there to remind you how section and subsection titles are formatted.
Blue and Pink-- By AddisonCox - 20 Feb 2025Colors of Our ChildhoodBlue and pink. We know these colors well. They often represent and designate a “boy” or a “girl” at a child’s young age. As we develop into teenagers, or even “tweens,” we shy away from these colors. Girls who want to stand out avoid pink and boys who want to signify their confidence will wear pink, both done so to show they are different from their peers. Yet, as we age into adulthood and realize the negative consequences of “standing out,” we aim to blend in. Take a ride on a NYC subway, how many of us are dressed in black or gray outfits? It seems to be most. As a result, it is easy to overlook how the defining aspects of separation between boys and girls, or blue and pink, respectively, can impact us at a young age. In fact, these colors, and other social norms, could have even led to the rise of Donald Trump. When children are young, and still wearing their respective blues and pinks, they are taught to be kind to others, to be appreciative of our differences, to be fair. It feels innate as a child to want things for ourselves (to be selfish). That is until we do grow into adulthood and realize the greater impacts selfishness can have on others. For children, they cannot realize the severity of their actions in respect to others. Some children–and later adults–repress this selfishness better than others. That’s part of being human, some parts of life you excel in, and in others, you are lacking. Yet, the reinforcement of strict gender norms, beginning with something as simple as the colors we are assigned at birth, plays a role in shaping these aspects of our personality. This assignment of blue and pink goes beyond colors, but into the roles we have as adults and areas we are meant to excel emotionally. Boys often aim to become masculine and independent, while girls aim to become accommodating and empathetic. Not to say these are hard lines drawn. Of course, there are many boys and girls who share each of these characteristics and many who have none of their gender-stereotyped ones.The Return to Blue and PinkNevertheless, consider the rise of Donald Trump within this context. It is no secret he is unapologetic in his self interest, and rejective of typical feminine ideals like fairness and empathy. Rather, he aims to promote individual success. In other words: selfishness. Indulging in our childhood selves, returning to our pinks and blues, is something that many Americans (a shocking number of Americans) have been more than happy to do. While some find reasons to rally behind Donald Trump as a candidate, citing economic gains, his “putting America first” attitude, among others, on a deeper level–for likely many of the Americans who voted for him–this is a way to return to their blue and pink attitude. Change is hard. Harder for some than others. But for Americans who saw the change of shifting social norms (even the rise of “yellow” as a color identifying a child, regardless of their sex) to be the loss of the American culture, their culture, Donald Trump has been able to revive that. In the world today, Donald Trump has given full permission, and even encouragement, for his voters to act in their own selfish nature. Ultimately, the return to blues and pinks is a good thing for those who value their own self-interest above all. But, for the rest of us, we are doomed to sit on the sidelines and reap the consequences of the actions (or even inaction) of those who voted for this outcome. In the meantime, women, LGBTQ+, immigrants, people of color, and many more will face the brunt of the selfishness of our fellow Americans. Self-interest, in itself, is not inherently negative. Rather, it is often a necessary force for survival and personal advancement. Without a degree of self-interest, we would struggle to assert ourselves in competitive environments, secure resources, or advocate for our needs. To be honest, self-interest is part of the reason at least some of us (including myself) have come to law school. I want to make an impact, but nevertheless, have considered my own self-interest in the choice to come to Columbia Law School. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that my self-interest does not cross the line into selfishness. A balanced approach can recognize the importance of personal ambition while still upholding collective responsibility.RedThe way society assigns meaning to colors and gender norms has a profound impact on personal identity and collective ideologies. While the black and gray clothing of adulthood may suggest neutrality, the influences of blue and pink never fully disappear. They linger in our perceptions of leadership, strength, and fairness, shaping our worldviews in ways we may not even recognize. In fact, the blue and pink influences have found a way to take symbolic shape: in a very red, very distinctive hat. Red is another color which should be noted for its symbolic nature. Its an overpowering color, which often demands attention in ways that blue and pink do not. While it is the backdrop to our flag, it holds a different meaning today. In the case of Trump's movement, the red hat serves as a beacon of unwavering ideology, drawing a clear line between those who embrace its message and those who oppose it. Between pink, blue, red, and even yellow, colors mean more than we often recognize (both symbolically and as tools of emotion). As a result, it seems today that many Americans may be more emboldened to show their true colors than ever before.You are entitled to restrict access to your paper if you want to. But we all derive immense benefit from reading one another's work, and I hope you won't feel the need unless the subject matter is personal and its disclosure would be harmful or undesirable. To restrict access to your paper simply delete the "#" character on the next two lines:
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