When I first started Owning Pink, I assumed my readers would be women. After all, I’m an OB/GYN. I don’t do men! So I was using gender-specific language, calling you Pinkies “sister” and “girlfriend,” when I wrote. But a curious phenomenon has evolved. More and more men are reading Owning Pink. And why not? More power to you! Why shouldn’t a man want to Own Pink? I know lots of guys who are proud to sport pink shirts. They feel it demonstrates masculine power to be in touch with a color traditionally considered feminine. Lots of guys are very in touch with their feminine sides, while still being powerfully masculine. It’s a Yin-Yang thing. In Chinese medicine, the body is divided into Yin and Yang- feminine organs and masculine organs. To be healthy and whole, we must balance our yin and our yang and invite all of ourselves to the table.

Women are given more permission to Own their Yin and their Yang than men. For the most part, Yang-inclined women are admired. (But then there’s Hillary Clinton. Although I love Obama, I’m a Hillary supporter as well, and one might argue that Owning Pink would have served Hillary well. There’s not a Pink bone in the body of that woman’s public appearance, but I’ll betcha she’s got a soft side underneath all those power suits.)

But Owning Pink is really not about the color. It's about living an authentic life, being true to who you are, nurturing your health, your spiritual essence, your wholeness. And that's just not about color or gender- in any way. So of COURSE men want to Own Pink, and we say more power to ya.
 

My own Pink God, Matt

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe you guys who are out there reading think Owning Pink is about being female, but you have girlfriends you’re trying to help. Maybe you want to better understand how the other team thinks. Regardless of your motivation, I am thrilled that you’re reading and commenting and writing for Owning Pink. Welcome to the Pink Posse, you Pink Gods! I admire you, and I apologize for any gender-specific language I’ve used in the past, when I assumed my readers were all women. I want to officially say that I am truly delighted that men want to Own Pink. It gives me hope and confidence in humanity. You have all made my year! I would also like to officially invite you to make your voice more heard. Most comments are posted by women, and perhaps some of you Pink Gods feel shy about joining the conversation. But come on in! We love you, we respect, admire, and appreciate you, and we want you to Own Your Voice.

I never intended to exclude anyone from Owning Pink. That wouldn’t be very Pink at all. I’ve just spent so long working with women that I forget you men are out there. That’s why I met Matt on Match.com. The only men I was meeting had knocked up one of my patients.

But now I’m rambling. Welcome Pink Gods. We love that you’re here and we want to make you feel welcome. Please, speak up and let your voice be heard. How does Owning Pink resonate with you? What part of your Pink self do you need to Own? How can Owning Pink better serve you and your mojo? Do tell…

With love to the Pink Gods,

Lissa