What do purple and green scarves mean in the feminist movement?

Within the framework of International Women’s Dayknow What do purple and green scarves mean in the feminist movement? It is key to understanding the ideology of the protesters, both those who march in the streets and those who fight in their own way from their own trenches, because beyond being visual distinctives, they hide a deep meaning full of history.

Symbols are an essential part of social struggles because they represent an ideal, provide recognition and establish a uniting point for people in search of the same goal. On many occasions, it is just common objects that become powerful inspirations when used as part of a political act.

The handkerchief, for example, changed its function from a garment to an emblem of protest, but it has been particularly important in the feminist movement since the late 1970s, when it was adopted by a group of women marchers in Argentina. Since then, it has become essential for every march, assembly, meeting, banner or any type of representation. Find out more about this important emblem.

They are two powerful symbols of struggle that are carried in purses, backpacks, tied to the wrist, in the hair or neck, or over the mouth.

Vicky Reyes.

The origin of the handkerchief in the feminist movement

On April 30, 1977a group of female protesters gathered in the Plaza de Mayor in Buenos Aires, Argentinato demand justice for the state crimes committed by the last civil-military dictatorship of the Latin American country, since there were many forced disappearances, mainly of young people.

Thus, thousands of mothers and grandmothers came out to demand the lives of their sons and daughters, and chose as a badge a white scarf tied over their heads. The way they used them, in the style of the housewives of the 50s, marked the appropriation of a sexist reference for women to transform it into a powerful symbol of bravery.

But it also established the tone of the proposal: the longing for recognition and respect of lifebecause in this context the color white symbolizes purity, innocence and peace, characteristics that are also attributed to youth full of gullible hope and genuine desires for a better world.

The protesters were baptized as the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo and since then they became a reference in the fight for memory, truth and justice for women.