Baby Girl Tutu

Why do girls wear pink and boys wear blue?

by Josh Clark

Surely you've done it before. You see a small baby and, based on the color of the baby's blanket, decide whether it's a boy or a girl. It's common knowledge that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. But have you ever wondered why? Why is it that boys prefer blue and girls pink? Is it a cultural phenomenon, as many assume? Or does this distinction between color preferences occur on a different level?
This question is exactly what two neuroscientists working at Newcastle University in Great Britain seek to answer. Doctors Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling created an experiment concerning color preferences among men and women. The journal Current Biology published their findings in the Aug. 21, 2007, issue.
The researchers assembled 206 test subjects of both sexes between the ages of 20 and 26 for the study. Most were British Caucasians, but 37 were of Chinese ancestry and were raised in China. The subjects sat before a computer while two rectangles of different colors flashed on the screen. For the purpose of the study, the neuroscientists divided the color spectrum into two halves, red-green and blue-yellow. The rectangles were sorted into these two categories.
The researchers asked participants to quickly choose which rectangle they preferred, and then the computer moved on to another set of rectangles. The findings from the experiment showed that men and women both preferred blue out of this set of basic colors.
When given mixed colors to choose from, the male population of the study showed a wide preference for color blends. But when the women were asked to choose from mixed colors, they tended to prefer colors that moved away from blue and toward the red end of the spectrum, where shades like pinks and lilacs are found. The scientists concluded that the long-held distinction of color preferences among genders had a real basis.
But why? Couldn't these results be due to the participants being raised in a culture where blue is for boys and pink for girls? In other words, couldn't the color preferences be learned rather than innate -- something we're born with?
That's where the Chinese participants came in. To show the pink/blue color preference exists across cultures and is therefore not a cultural construct, the researchers gave the same test to Chinese subjects. The results were similar among the Chinese women and the British women: Both preferred the shades found on the red side of the spectrum.
This lends support to the notion that color preferences among the sexes have a biological basis rather than a cultural one. The researchers hope to support this conclusion with a revised version of the test modified for infants. A very young child, the scientists reason, hasn't yet had a chance to be socialized into a gender role by society. Therefore, any color preferences displayed by babies would have to be innate.
But the question remains -- why is there a distinction among males and females regarding color preferences? Doctors Hurlbert and Ling suggest that the reason is found in humanity's distant past.

From Africa to the Roaring '20s

Neuroscientists Hurlbert and Ling found that women of two distinct cultures tend to prefer red tones, including pink, but why? In their published findings, the scientists suggest that the preference comes from the role assigned to ancient women. Bands of hunter/gatherers composed humanity before the advent of agriculture around 10,000 years ago. In these bands, men generally hunted while the women foraged for fruits, vegetables and other plants.
It's Hurlbert and Ling's view that women became attuned to the reds of the ripe berries and other fruits that would win an ancient woman points among the others in her band. As such, women came to focus on the color red (and the rewards associated with it) in order to make their search easier. The doctors say that this would also come in handy for recognizing flushed faces, a sign of illness, among the women's children.
To explain the preference for blue found among both men and women in the study, Hurlbert suggested that to these ancients bands, blue signified "good weather" and a "good water source" [source: The Guardian].
But this may be a leap from findings to explanation. It's true the researchers found that women tend to prefer colors on the red end of the spectrum. Their findings also find support from previous studies. A 2003 study suggested that women prefer reds because their eyes are physically attuned to see reds better than other colors. This certainly supports Hurlbert and Ling's idea of an evolutionary basis for color preferences. But their answer doesn't encompass all of the data.
For example, it wasn't until the 1920s that Western parents began dressing their children in colors. Prior to this, children of both sexes generally wore white, and both boys and girls of a young age were outfitted in dresses. When the color assignments among boys and girls did evolve in the '20s, the colors were reversed: pink was for boys and blue for girls. It wasn't until around the 1940s that the colors flip-flopped to the assignment we recognize today [source: The Guardian]. This lends support to the notion that the color preference between pink and blue comes from culture rather than biology.
But there are certainly parents who choose to opt out of the pink/blue division for their children and outfit them in clothes of yellow and green. Still, many young girls -- including some who have been raised outside of the typical gender colors -- go through a phase characterized by their unyielding demand for all things pink. Researchers at Princeton University refer to this as the Pink Frilly Dress (PFD) phase.
The Princeton group posits that kids become aware by age two that there are two distinct genders and that they belong to one of them. Securing a place in one's gender is important to a child's psychological development. One easy way for a child to achieve this security is by adopting the color assigned to his gender by society and rejecting the other [source: Princeton University].
Since the Princeton study suggests a combination of both biology and culture is at work in color preferences, the question still remains: Is biology or culture responsible -- or both? Perhaps the answer could be found from a study investigating whether people who are color-blind tend to suffer gender confusion.

Sources

• Goldacre, Ben. "Out of the Blue and In the Pink." The Guardian. August 25, 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/aug/25/genderissues
• Khouw, Natalia. "The Meaning of Color For Gender." http://www.colormatters.com/khouw.html
• O'Connor, Steve. "Boys Like Blue, Girls Like Pink - It's In Our Genes." The Independent. August 21, 3007. http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article2881412.ece
• Ruble, Diane N., Lurye, Leah E. and Zosuls, Kristina M. "Pink Frilly Dresses (PFD) and Early Gender Identity." Princeton University. http://prok.princeton.edu/2-2/inventions/pink_frilly#issue
• Wainwright, Martin. "Pink for a Girl and Blue for a Boy - And It's All Down To Evolution." The Guardian. August 21, 2007. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/aug/21/sciencenews.fashion
• "'Pink/Blue' Test Raises Yellow Caution Flag." Chicago Sun-Times. May 21, 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070521/ai_n19163555by
• "Sex Differences and Color Preferences." TS-Si. August 23, 2007. http://ts-si.org/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=2464

http://people.howstuffworks.com/gender-color.htm

Baby Pimples

Baby Pimples

Baby pimples generally appear within 3 or 4 weeks after a baby is born and is evidenced by small red bumps or whiteheads across the cheeks, forehead and chin. Milia, or hard white pimple like bumps are also typical appearances on about 40% of newborn's faces immediately after birth, but are not considered acne. Occurring in about 20% of all children, real acne on babies is a result of the mother's hormones coming in contact with the placenta just before birth. The sebaceous glands are activated in a newborn and an excessive amount of oil begins to be produced on the baby's skin. Until a natural oil balance is achieved, some infants may have recurring skin problems until around 6 months of age. This is consternation to many parents who want to have beautiful pictures of their little darlings. A word of advice...parents should take a lot of good pictures the first month!

While the appearance of acne on their sweet baby's face may be horrifying to proud parents, it really is generally of no serious health concern. "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isaiah 54:13) As the oil glands become naturally balanced, most children are acne-free well before their first birthday. This type of baby pimples generally clears up on its own without the use of medications or special skin care products. Parents are recommended to gently wash their child's face with warm water and a very mild soap that is formulated for babies. Using lotions, creams and oil-based products do not help and may actually cause more bumps. If however, the problem persists after the six month mark, some pediatricians will prescribe a medication that can help clear the skin.

There are other kinds of acne that can develop on a newborn after a few months. One type is called infantile acne which develops after 3 or 4 months. These baby pimples are yellow and usually are found on the cheeks and nose. Some babies also have blackheads and whiteheads as well. This type of skin condition usually goes away when a child is a year old, but sometimes may last as long as up to 3 years. The cause is related to original traces of the mothers hormones still present. Most of these conditions clear up on their own without any special treatment protocols.

Of course, a pediatrician should be consulted if a condition seems to be severe and shows no signs of resolving. Milia are common on children and are sometimes mistaken for acne. Milia are in the form of bumps and each blemish is a hard white pimple that is generally found on the nose, cheeks and chin. Bumps that are very similar can be found on some infant's gums or in the roof of their mouths. These types of bumps are called Epstein's Pearls and are quite common. Babies can have varying amounts of Milia, but the bumps are not harmful and will generally resolve without any treatment. These types of skin eruptions are the result of dead skin cells that get trapped just below the surface of the skin. Pockets are formed and the cells harden, causing the bumps.

Generally, the eruptions disappear when the skin sheds away. Since the bumps are near the surface of the skin, it doesn't take long for the skin to rejuvenate itself with a new surface. Parents should only gently wash an infant's face with warm water and baby soap. The bumps should not be squeezed or scrubbed in an attempt to make them go away. This may only cause future scarring on the infants skin. While newborns are obviously the only age group that develops acne caused by maternal hormones, babies are not the only age group to have Milia. Hard white pimple like bumps are commonly found on adult facial skin and can be more difficult to deal with than for children.

Adults can develop the condition when oil and dead skin accumulates in pockets under the skin. A hard white pimple is filled with protein that has hardened into a granule. Unlike typical acne, the blemishes are not in the pores but in pockets under the skin. In order to get rid of these blemishes, a lengthy process of exfoliation and cleansing is needed to assist layers of the skin to slough off. Eventually, some of the bumps will disappear. Sometimes, they will need to be removed. It is generally best to see a dermatologist who can gently remove these cyst-like bumps with the appropriate tools. As in any type of skin condition, from baby pimples to adult Milia, seeking the advice of a health professional is always helpful in alleviating concerns as well as finding new treatment options.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/acne

 

http://www.christianet.com/acne/babypimples.htm

16 WAYS TO USE BABY OIL YOU MAYBE NEVER THOUGHT OF

16 WAYS TO USE BABY OIL YOU MAYBE NEVER THOUGHT OF

There are a variety of ways to use baby oil. If you have a bottle of baby oil sitting around in your drug cabinet, or bathroom, there are other ways to use it besides on your baby. Baby oil is usually cheaper than other varieties of oil. Plus, the packaging is usually pleasant to look at.

What is baby oil? what is it made of? Soft and Silk Baby Oil is simply a couple simple mixed ingridents.... Mineral Oil, Aloe Vera Extract, Vitamin E, Acetate, Fragrance.

 

 

A STUCK RING

Stuck ring. Use baby oil to remove a ring that simply will not budge with any other method. All you need to do is to simply lubricate your ring area with a generous portion of baby oil. Swivel your ring around so that the oil is evenly distributed. By doing this, you should then be able to remove your ring.

LEATHER POLISH

Leather polish. To polish up your leather bags and shoes, simply add a couple of drops of baby oil to a soft cloth. Buff and polish your leather goods to restore a luster and new life to them. Be sure to wipe off the excess when you are done.

BATHROOM CLEANSER

Bathroom Cleanser. Use some baby oil to remove dirt and build-up soap scum from around your bathtub and shower stall. Simply wipe the surfaces with one-teaspoon baby oil that has been applied to a moist cloth. After you have wiped the scum surface, use another dry towel/cloth to wipe away any leftover oil. To kill any remaining germs, you will then want to spray the area with a disinfectant cleaner.

This same technique can easily be used to clean soap film and watermarks from your glass shower doors. Using baby oil is much cheaper and healthier than using the commercially prepared varieties of bathroom cleaners.

STAINLESS STEEL AND CHROME POLISHER

Stainless steel and chrome polisher. Use baby oil to bring back to life your dull-looking stainless steel sinks. You simply need to put a few drops of baby oil on a soft, clean cloth and then rub the areas down.

You can also use this technique to remove those stains from around the chrome trim of your kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.

SCENTED BATH OIL

Scented Bath oil. Make your own cheap, scented bath oil out of baby oil. All you need to do is add a few drops of your favorite scent to ¼ cup of baby oil in a small plastic bottle. When you are ready to take a bath, just shake the bottle well and add some drops to your bath.

BATH OIL

Bath oil. The same procedure as above works here. Instead of adding the scent, though, simply pour the baby oil into your bath water. It will help moisturize your skin.

PAINT REMOVAL

Paint removal. Whenever you are using latex paint and get some spatters on you, simply put some baby oil on the spatters and rub. This will loosen the paint. Then, wash

with soap and water to fully remove the paint.

DASHBORD SCRATCH DISGUISE

Scratch disguise. If you notice that you have scratches on your car's plastic dashboard area, rub some baby oil on them. This procedure helps to 'fill in' and disguise the scratches.

BUFFER

Buffer. Instead of spending a lot of money on specialty cleaning kits for your golf clubs, simply put a few drops of baby oil onto a towel and polish (buff) your golf club heads. This applies if your golf clubs are chrome-plated carbon steel, by the way. Do this polishing procedure after each round of golf and you will help extend the useful life of your golf clubs. For ease of use, carry a small plastic bottle of baby oil along with a towel in your golf club bag.

There you have it. Use baby oil in any of the above situations and you will get more bang for your buck from this timeless item.

HOMEMADE BABYWIPES

Use in homemade baby wipes (2 tbsps of baby oil, 2tbsps of baby lotion, 1 tbsp of bathwash and 3/4 cup of hot water poured over Bounty paper towels and put in a sealed container).

REMOVING HAIR EXTENTIONS

Removing the silicon of those hair extensions yourself at home! Massage the baby oil into your hair and the silicon, it should slip off. Shampoo several times to remove the oil.

TAKING OFF A BANDAID? HAIRY ARM?

use this and save yourself some pain

To keep your arm or leg hair intact, rub some baby oil around a band aid or other adhesive bandage before removing.

CUTICLE AND CALLOUSE TREATMENT

Baby oil also makes a great hot oil treatment for cuticles and callouses. Just heat up the oil, and soak your fingers in it for a few minutes. Then, press back your cuticles. Or, gently rub the callous

STICKERS ON PRODUCTS YOU BUY

If a price sticker doesn't peel off as easily as it should, dab a little oil on said offending sticker, let soak into the sticker then wipe clean with a soft cloth.

TREAT CRADDLE CAP

 

Cradle cap may be unsightly, but it is a common, usually harmless, phase in many babies' development. To combat it, gently rub in a little baby oil, and lightly comb it through your baby's hair. If your child gets upset, comb it a bit at a time, but do not leave the oil on for more than 24 hours. Then, thoroughly wash the hair to remove all of the oil. Repeat the process in persistent cases. Note: If you notice a lot of yellow crusting, or if the cradle cap has spread behind the ears or on the neck, contact your pediatrician instead.

BUFF UP GOLF CLUBS

Buff up your golf clubs. Don't waste your money on fancy cleaning kits for your chrome-plated carbon steel golf club heads. Just keep a small bottle filled with baby oil in your golf bag along with a chamois cloth or towel. Dab a few drops of oil on the cloth and polish the head of your club after each round of golf.

 

http://www.squidoo.com/babyoil

 

Michelle Obama: Most Powerful Mom?

Michelle Obama: Most Powerful Mom?

According to Working Mother’s Top Ten Moms of 2011, Michelle Obama ranks as one of the ten most powerful moms in the world. 
 
As much as I respect Working Mother magazine, and delight in Michelle Obama (along with most of the world), I beg to differ. 
 
Michelle Obama IS popular, with approval ratings close to seventy percent. But popular flies a different flag than powerful.  Of all the women in the world I admire, Michelle Obama is the one from whom I’d like to see a little more power-flexing -- and a whole lot less bicep-flexing.
 
The last interesting quote from Michelle Obama was her now-infamous February 2008 campaign cutline that America’s support of a black presidential candidate made her proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. I was intrigued by her heartfelt words. As an educationally and economically privileged white American woman, I wanted more on the subject from her.  Of course it’s harder to be proud of this country if you are black, given our history of slavery, economic discrimination and voter intimidation  -- but as a white woman, I’d rarely thought about patriotism in that vein. 
 
Obama opened my eyes to the still-prevalent prejudice black moms face in the workforce, in the polling booth, and in raising children.  She made me think long and hard about what it would be like to be a black mom, holding a child’s hand on the first day of kindergarten at an underfunded and overcrowded public school, or driving with kids in the backseat through a predominately not-black neighborhood, or taking a gravely sick black child to a hospital staffed mostly by white doctors and nurses.
 
But instead of praising her candor, conservative media and rival politicians portrayed Obama as the stereotypical “angry black woman.” These howls effectively silenced Michelle Obama for the rest of the campaign and the first four years of her husband’s presidency.  She’s hardly spoken up since - in public, at least.  Probably to the satisfaction of her husband’s press office, but to our collective loss.
 
We see Michelle Obama plenty.  She’s regularly smiling and pumping her arms on the cover of Vogue, People, Ladies Home Journal and Reader’s Digest. We know the contents of her closet and where she shops. We know her height, her weight and her shoe size.
 
But do we know the contents of her mind?  We rarely hear her opinions on any subjects of substance.  I for one have seen enough of her upper appendages and her designer clothes, and read enough bland dogma on home-grown vegetables and aerobic exercise, to last me several lifetimes.  Are fashion and body-toning tips all we can expect from one of the most highly educated First Ladies in history?
Please don’t interpret this as criticism of Ms. Michelle.  I don’t imagine she has a lot of leeway.  I’m sure there is immense pressure - from political advisors, the black community, her husband, the watching world - to play her role as First Black Lady on the safe side.  First, do no harm is a critical political and societal goal for the only black couple to head the White House.  Maybe she’s just presenting an image palatable to Americans squeamish about a smart, powerful black woman running the White House - just as many celebrities craft an image to sell records, win elections, or raise capital.
 
Hands down, Michelle Obama has won the nation’s popularity contest.  But one of the primal lessons of feminism is that power outranks popularity.  I’m willing to be Michelle Obama has realized that, too.
 
I’d like to get past the image Michelle Obama projects - and to hear more of her opinions.  Particularly on the subjects she knows firsthand, the thorny topics that bedevil women today.  The importance of education in leveling the gender and racial playing fields (Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Harvard Law School).  What it’s like to be the major breadwinner (she out-earned her husband financially until she became First Mom in the White House).  How to juggle career and kids gracefully and without resentment.  The value of live-in childcare help (her mom moved to DC along with Malia and Sasha).  What it is really like to be the first black First Lady in America  -- something I, and the rest of the white women in America, know zilch about.
 
However pragmatic her strategy, I fear we’ve all lost something invaluable - the opportunity to hear from a black career woman, equal rights advocate, and mom with plenty of moxie and mind capital to share with our country.  Perhaps, whether President Obama is re-elected or not, the freedom from popularity polls will mean more straight talk from his wife.  I, for one, will be listening assiduously.

http://www.mommytracked.com/19939?page=0%2C1