From birth, and even before birth, colors have differentiated the male and female genders. Baby boy showers are expected to be riddled with the color blue and a baby girl’s with the color pink. As we enter our adolescent stages of life, the color assigned to us transcends into the clothing we wear, the paint choice for our bedroom walls, the decorations on our birthday cakes and even to the polish we put on our finger nails. When we grow older, this color either becomes a preference to some or an irritation to others. So, how do we generally feel about this new pink camo craze for female hunters?
I have spoken to countless women about this topic and the general consensus is difficult to grasp. Many females love the color pink and feel it gives their favorite sport that feminine touch they desire, while others detest it and view the pink camo as a further separation of genders. A seemingly equal amount of other women are open-minded, not having reached an opinion either way. In a recent FOX news broadcast, Eva Shockey expressed an indifference to pink camo saying, “I’m kinda somewhere in the middle – I don’t necessarily need pink but I want a color that’s for girls. I’m not against it.”
The most important factor to consider with pink camo, specific to firearms used in the field, is whether or not it is functional. We know, for example, whitetail deer can not visualize the color red, but does the shade of pink still fall within that same spectrum? Does it instead serve as a shining beacon in the woods or is it a shade that these deer can pick up on? Various studies and informative articles have shown that deer do not discriminate between different shades of red, and likely can not see pink. Interestingly, in recent news, there has also been some talk about incorporating “blaze pink” with the already used “blaze
orange” safety clothing. Senator Terry Moulton of Wisconsin state says, “Safety is a crucial factor in this decision, but it appears that blaze pink is more effective than blaze orange against deer and more visible for hunters. If this idea has enough support, you may be seeing blaze pink on hunters in the near year.” With that been said, we know we are still disguised from the big game deer we hunt, but what about the social conflict that pink camo generates?
Do pink camo-wearing female hunters seem less credible than the others who choose not to adorn themselves in it? Fellow male hunters have expressed a general likeness towards this new craze, saying it brings out the feminine quality hunting has gone many years without. Most of the male population of hunters are undoubtedly just happy to see women hunters out in the field!
Respectively, I also believe pink camo is a matter of personal preference, whether you use it during your hunting trips or in other recreational settings; To each their own likes and dislikes. Perhaps, displaying pink camo is a new way of showing our unity as hunters? Instead of thinking pink camo is an insult, maybe we can view it as a symbol of females trending in the hunting industry and use this opportunity as support for growth. Rather than viewing these issues as unnecessary, we should instead understand that these debates are precisely how we build stronger resolutions and grow as a community – even if it is only a matter of color preference.
Heather Ballek
Dressed to Kill TV Staff Writer
Dressed to Kill TV 