Why Orange Jumpsuits, White Space Suits, and Green Scrubs?

Ever wondered why prisoners wear orange jumpsuits or why doctors wear blue scrubs? Let's dive into the fascinating world of uniform colors and uncover the stories and practical reasons behind them.

Prisoner Uniforms: From Stripes to Orange

When you think of a prisoner, you probably picture them in an orange jumpsuit. This image is ingrained in our minds, but it wasn't always this way. Originally, prisoners in the U.S. wore black and white striped uniforms. This changed in the early 20th century to break the association with gangs.

Orange jumpsuits appeared in the 1970s. Interestingly, inmates don't always wear these jumpsuits—only when being transported or going outside the prison. The reason? Visibility. Orange is a striking color that makes it difficult for an inmate to escape and blend into a crowd.

Astronaut Uniforms: White for Safety

Astronauts always wear white, and there's a good reason for it. Space is an extreme environment with temperatures ranging from melting hot to freezing cold. White reflects heat better than any other color, which is crucial for the spacesuit's cooling and heating systems. Additionally, in the darkness of space, white is the most visible color, providing an extra layer of safety.

Firefighters: Functional Dark Colors

You might wonder why firefighters don't wear white to reflect heat. When you're surrounded by flames, the color of your uniform doesn't make much difference. White uniforms would quickly get covered in ash and dust. Instead, firefighters wear dark colors like black or brown, which don't show dirt as easily. Reflective stripes on their uniforms make them visible in smoky conditions.

Police Officers: The Practicality of Dark Blue

The first police department was established in the UK in the early 19th century, and their uniforms were blue to distinguish them from soldiers who wore red and white. When the first U.S. police department was established, they adopted the same blue uniforms. This color has proven practical: it doesn't show stains easily and helps officers stay unnoticed at night while tracking suspects.

Medical Workers: Green and Blue for Sterility and Focus

Medical workers typically wear blue or green scrubs, but this wasn't always the case. Before the 20th century, they wore their regular clothes, even during surgery. As medicine advanced, the need for sterility became paramount, and white uniforms were introduced to signify purity. However, white stains easily, so green and blue became the standard colors.

These colors also have another benefit. Surgeons often focus on red colors during surgery, and blue and green are on the opposite side of the color spectrum, making red colors stand out more. Additionally, different departments in hospitals use color-coded scrubs to help quickly identify roles and responsibilities.

The Curious Case of Doctor's Handwriting

Why do most doctors have sloppy handwriting? There's no special class in medical school teaching bad penmanship. Doctors are simply always in a rush, writing prescriptions and filling out paperwork as fast as possible. They're often too tired to worry about calligraphy after a long day of seeing patients and handling administrative tasks.

Wedding Dresses: White for Purity?

Wedding dresses are typically white, but this tradition isn't as old as you might think. Before the 19th century, brides wore their best dress, regardless of color. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white gown for her wedding, a color associated with mourning at the time. Despite initial resistance, white became widely accepted within a decade, symbolizing purity and innocence.

Engagement Rings: The Fourth Finger Tradition

Engagement and wedding rings are typically worn on the fourth finger, a tradition that dates back to ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. People believed there was a vein in this finger that led straight to the heart, symbolizing love and commitment. Originally worn on the right hand, some cultures later switched to the left hand, but it’s always the fourth finger.

Gendered Colors: Pink for Girls, Blue for Boys

Why is pink associated with girls and blue with boys? Historically, it was the opposite. Pink, a stronger color, was for boys, and blue, a calmer color, was for girls. This changed in the 19th century when pink was seen as a shade of romantic red. The women’s movement almost ended color-gender assignments, but the 1960s brought gender reveal parties and companies capitalized by selling pink and blue items, solidifying the modern associations.

Blue Raspberry: A Marketing Solution

Blue raspberries don’t exist, so why is the flavor blue? It’s a practical solution. With so many red-flavored popsicles (apple, lemon, strawberry, cherry, watermelon), adding another red flavor would be confusing. Blue raspberry was created to differentiate it from the rest.

Egg Colors: White or Brown?

Why are some eggs white and some brown? It depends on the breed of the hen. White chickens typically lay white eggs, while darker chickens lay brown eggs. There’s no difference in taste or nutrition between the two. The yolk color, ranging from orange to yellow, depends on the chicken’s diet.

Conclusion

Uniform colors, traditions, and common practices often have fascinating histories and practical reasons behind them. From the visibility of prisoner uniforms to the practicality of police and firefighter gear, and the evolution of medical scrubs, each choice is steeped in history and functionality. Next time you see a doctor in blue scrubs or a bride in a white dress, you'll know there's more to their attire than meets the eye.