Re: Judges: by sex?
- To: <iris-talk@onelist.com>
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] Judges: by sex?
- From: J* R*
- Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 14:25:38 -0700
From: "Julia Rankin" <breckenridge@bnis.net>
Dear James,
Even the most cursory study of women's taste over the last two millennia in
both Europe (and, where we have evidences, outside it) shows no particular
predilection at all among women for pastels -- pink, etc. When velvet and
brocades were much worn, the colors were very rich purples, blues, reds,
maroons, greens, for both men and women -- cloth of gold very popular with
anyone who could afford it. One only has to look at Swiss National dress for
women to see how little pastels are an especially feminine taste. And -- one
has only to look at the Caribbean culture to see, again, that women's tastes
do not necessarily run this way. Actually it was in the 40's and 50's that
the notion that women should wear (and like) very soft colors gained a
footing.
Anner is right to point out that most hybridizing has been done by men --
and I would judge her correct as to why we see the pinks, etc. come in.
Julia
-----Original Message-----
From: James Brooks <hirundo@tricon.net>
To: iris-talk@onelist.com <iris-talk@onelist.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 12:53 PM
Subject: [iris-talk] Judges: by sex?
>From: James Brooks <hirundo@tricon.net>
>
>When I look at my bed of Dykes Medal winners marching a line of blooms up
>the hill from 1927 to 1998, it seems obvious to me that during the 1930s
>and up until World War II, the judges must have been predominantly men.
>
>I mentioned Dauntless, Mary Geddes and Copper Lustre in the previous post,
>but add to that Prairie Sunset, The Red Douglas and some others from this
>era and you have a bed of color a man could love, borne out by the men who
>visit the gardens.
>
>By the end of World War II, my theory runs, the balance of the judges
>became women: the color shift is remarkable - from there on it is pastels:
>purples, pinks, blues, lavenders, pale yellows, with huge flowers and lots
>of ruffles and lace. The shift is so dramatic it cannot be explained by
>tetraploidy alone.
>
>Is there anyone on the list who could substantiate this theory? I know in
>the early historic photos of the local bird club, it was the men in this
>era, wearing suits and ties and wing-tipped shoes, who went birdwatching,
>while the women stayed at the picnic grounds and dished out the potato
>salad. I would suspect that gardening became democraticized somewhat
>earlier, with women first being nurturers of flowers, then hybridizers, and
>finally judges.
>
>Any feedback?
>
>
>James Brooks
>Jonesborough, TN
>hirundo@tricon.net
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