Symbolic dressing has become a trend in recent years. And it works.
Of course, a group of people protesting in the same colour can never go unseen. The 2019 State of the Union address had democratic women dressed in the colour from the 20th century suffragette movement, which aimed to recognise women’s right to vote. President Trump’s colleagues cheered at the request to pass legislation to prohibit the late term abortion of children who can feel the pain in the mother’s womb. Whilst the women covered in ‘suffragette white’ listened, and sat in silence.
Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said in a statement to CNN: “Wearing suffragette white is a respectful message of solidarity with women across the country, and a declaration that we will not go back on our hard-earned right”.
Just last month, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez wore white when she was sworn into Congress.
I wore all-white today to honor the women who paved the path before me, and for all the women yet to come.
From suffragettes to Shirley Chisholm, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the mothers of the movement. ⬇️ https://t.co/GBfSSYxbek
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 4, 2019
And we’re only just at the start of 2019!
In 2018, the House Democratic Women’s Working Group requested both men and women to wear black at the State of the Union address. In that same month, Hollywood actresses wore black to the Golden Globes to show support for the #MeToo movement and the Time’s Up movement. And we couldn’t stop talking about it. 2017 saw the group asking female members of Congress to wear white to a presidential address. It actually goes even further back! In 2016, Hillary Clinton wore white to the Democratic national convention. This is where she became the first major party female nominee for president.
It is inspiring, as a female, to see prominent women take a stance in a way that is universally memorable. With steps like these, we can strive to get closer and closer to gender equality in all aspects across the globe.
Image Source: PBS NewsHour ‘WATCH: Trump’s full 2019 State of the Union address’ via Youtube