Movements and protests have been defined by many aspects, from slogans to banners to posters, but a great defining factor of all of them can be linked to color.
According to Camille Benda, author of “Dressing the Resistance: The Visual Language of Protest through History,” “Humans have a complex, emotional relationship with color, making it a potent tool in protest movements.”
Purple is a prolific example of color used as symbolism. Betty Friedan described lesbian women’s rights activists in the 1970s as the “lavender menace.” In response, queer women adopted the color as a symbol for LGBTQ+ rights. They dyed shirts various shades of mauve, lilac and orchid and inscribed “lavender menace” on them.
Sixty years earlier, the Women’s Social and Political Union adopted purple as color of the suffragette movement alongside green and white. In commemoration of these suffragettes, female politicians have been wearing all white ensembles. Notably, Kamala Harris wore all white at her vice presidential acceptance speech.
Pink is another color associated with gendered protest. Before World War II, pink was commonly associated as the color of boys and men, but post-war campaigns sought to flip that dynamic.
Today, all people use pink as power symbol to fight gender stereotypes. When discussing her Pussyhat Project, Jayna Zweiman said, “[I wanted to] flip the feminine –associated color as something strong.”
While individual colors have strong significance, many movements use multiple to convey a message. The Pride flag boasts a rainbow designed to represent the inclusion of all genders, sexualities, races and beliefs. In 2020, female politicians in Poland boasted rainbow face masks and colorful wardrobes, in defiance of their homophobic president.
Color has been a powerful symbol for protests throughout history, and with today’s divided society, it is only a matter of time before a new colorful movement rises again.
