Why is a purple ribbon used on March 8th, International Women's Day?
The symbolic purple feminist ribbon originated in the early 20th century, is related to the English nobility, and was adopted in the 1970s.
March 8 once again marks a day of powerful calls for real equality between men and women. One of the most recognizable symbols is the purple ribbon, used across society to show visibility, solidarity, and support for women.
What does the purple ribbon mean?
The purple ribbon traces its origins back to the early 20th century. In 1908, British suffragettes chose purple—along with white and green—as the colors of their movement. Purple was inspired by the symbolism of English nobility.
The women’s movement in the U.K. pushed relentlessly for the right to vote, escalating their protests year after year. Their efforts paid off in 1917, when women were finally granted voting rights—though only those over the age of 30.
It wasn’t until the 1960s, during the second wave of feminism, that socialist women revived the color as a symbol of the fight for gender equality. American suffragists also adopted it, wearing purple during the massive 1978 march in support of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Since then, the feminist movement has embraced the purple ribbon as a universal symbol of its struggle. It’s also widely used on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
A more legendary theory
There’s another theory about the origin of the purple ribbon—one that falls more into the realm of legend.
In 1908, a fire broke out at the Cotton textile factory in New York, killing 129 women who were on strike and became trapped inside. According to the legend, the factory owner intentionally set the blaze.
The story claims that the smoke rising from the fire was purple because the workers had been handling purple fabrics. In this version, the color was adopted as a tribute to the women who lost their lives.
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