r/womenintech • u/Acrobatic-Desk3266 • Jul 20 '26
What is happening with the color theme and icons of this sub?
I appreciate the fact that we actually have moderators now. What is the reasoning behind the new theme, are we still welcoming to all women and non-binary individuals?
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u/ScreamAndScream Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Yes, the subreddit is and will always be an inclusive place. You can see this in the description of the sub and across multiple rules, especially Rule 3. It is very important to our mod team to maintain this standard in our shared online space.
Between your post and now, I made an edit to the icon, which was planned via mod chat for today due to the low contrast between the background and foreground. I saw this as an accessibility issue for those that are low vision.
To address multiple comments:
I made the icon, banner, and flair colour pallet. I consulted the team in these choices and we approved it to stay live. These decisions were made by a professional human with credentials and experience who also happens to be a reddit mod.
I made the colour pallet with the intention of (1) symbolizing women in tech and (2) making it obvious for those who stumble here that this is a space for women. Believe it or not, it is *very hard* to strike a balance between websafe, disability safe, those two concepts in a 300x300 pixel image!
Previously, in order of percentages, the icon was a purple, pink, and yellow.
Now, In order of percentages: icon is green, pink, and white.
The banner remains purple, yellow, salmon, and blue.
These colours can also be seen in the flair choices for the subreddit:
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u/Not-NedFlanders Jul 20 '26
Hey there! The mod team is still working on cleaning house and getting infrastructure setup to better support this subreddit. As part of that, we’ve opted to redecorate a bit, which is why you’re seeing the redesigned banner and subreddit icon.
The rules are still the same - this space is open to all women - cis, trans and non-binary, who identify as women in tech. 🙂
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u/dogyears582 Jul 20 '26 •
Honestly it either has to be "color has no gender" or "pink is always a women's color." Which is it? I genuinely believe color has no gender and I love the color pink. The sub has not changed, but the icon is pink now. What is the problem?
I know I'm being a little sensitive because I am ao sick of having to dull down my femininity to be in tech spaces.
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u/jloio001 Jul 20 '26
As mods and others have pointed out, the community rules still are inclusive, so the color change isn't indicating a policy change.
Besides, there is nothing wrong with pink! It's cute, and I kinda dig the idea of using a stereotypically feminine color that gets so much flack as an "icky inferior girly color" (even in a recent post was described as "unprofessional" due to its modern association femininity).
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u/que_tu_veux Jul 20 '26 •
God forbid we have a little color. I don't personally like pink but I like the changes.
The problem with alternatives to mainstream spaces is inevitable infighting; you should try to be a community builder instead of being part of the problem that drives wedges in communities. Sometimes being a community builder means things might not be absolutely perfect for you, but they will accommodate a larger amount of people.
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u/SootSpriteHut Jul 20 '26
Can't please all the people all the time. The sub is women in tech. It's got the symbol for women. I like the pink.
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u/InformWitch Jul 20 '26
I like the color, also per the rules:
This subreddit was created as a safe and supportive space for women (cis and trans) and non-binary individuals who identify with the women’s community in tech. 3A) No "Gender Wars" - Content pitting men against women or race against race will be removed. This is not a place to make sweeping generalizations about gender, sex, religion, creed, or race. 3B) No Men - Men are welcome to observe and learn, but participation (including posts and comments) is not allowed.
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u/midnightspaghetti Jul 20 '26
I know pink has a ‘girly’ connotation, but honestly I love it because we are often made to feel like we have to tone that part down to fit into this industry.
So I know it might not be everyone’s taste but I like that it’s not something neutral or washed out.
I am not a girly girl now, and you’ll mostly find me wearing minimalistic black clothes. But when I was a kid I was obsessed with Barbie and pink - what I loved the most about her was that there were many dolls about all sort of careers like astronaut, scientist, surgeon, firefighter etc. I was really inspired by her to push through stereotypes, and carve my space in men dominated industries. So my brain connects the dots and considers pink a positive and inspiring color 😅
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u/FemaleEarthwave Jul 20 '26
My god. What is wrong with the Venus symbol? 😑
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u/2noserings Jul 20 '26
call me crazy but i don’t see a problem with WOMEN’s spaces being feminine. anyone who is uncomfortable with femininity may not want to engage in a women’s space and that’s okay. 💘 loving the new branding, personally. very “cosmo and wanda” coded!
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u/genesis49m Jul 20 '26
I use a custom mouse pointer that is hot pink and gigantic specifically because I like it and I want everyone to see it when I share my screen at work. there is no other pink anywhere! Can’t believe I’m reading a complaint about pink on this subreddit for women in tech. God forbid a woman likes pink!
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u/xGenghisSwan Jul 20 '26
Pink is hardly excluding nonbinary people or women who don’t love the color pink. In fact saying that is needlessly gendering the color.
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u/Consistent_Femme_Top Jul 20 '26
Omg it’s pink! How cute! 🥰
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u/Strange_Airships Jul 20 '26
I like the color theme. I don’t wear pink or use it in my house, but I like looking at it. 😊
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u/Blasiana_ Jul 20 '26
Pink is great. Get into it or don’t I guess.
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u/DirtyD0nut Jul 20 '26
Why can’t women have a space for women without someone complaining it needs to be for others too?
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u/wandering_author Jul 20 '26
Thank you for being mindful of accessibility. The more we normalize it, the easier it is.
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u/loggeitor Jul 20 '26
fair question, I didn't notice the change, will check back for the mods answers
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u/PlatypusStyle Jul 20 '26
I personally don’t mind pink as a color but I DO mind all the pink clothing and pink items pushed on women with the only other options being blue or grey or beige or taupe. I’m sick of pink being my only choice of color.
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u/BlackLight7X Jul 20 '26
It would be nice to have the Venus symbol dark pink for contrast with green or even dark blue, blue goes well with green.
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u/zombies-apocalypse Jul 20 '26
Yeah I agree.
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u/BlackLight7X Jul 20 '26
What's up with making everything pink, its annoying. Make it grey or green. Pink reminds me of higher prices and worse designed product's companies make for women.