+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Here's why a ton of people are wearing white on this historic Election Day

Nov 8, 2016, 22:11 IST

Advertisement
Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton smilels as she listens to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speak during the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on October 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight is the final debate ahead of Election Day on November 8. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

If you noticed an abundance of people wearing white on Election Day this year, you aren't imagining things.

There has been a movement to don the color to celebrate that, for the first time ever, a woman is a major party's candidate for president - and, among Hillary Clinton supporters, to express hope that this election could result in the first female US president. 

The connection between the color white and women's political empowerment has its roots in the suffrage movement.

In 1908, according to History.com, the Women's Social and Political Union picked three colors to represent the movement for women's suffrage: white for purity, purple for dignity, and green for hope. Women dressed in white became a symbol for the suffrage movement, as they rallied and protested for the right to vote.  

California Lottery

Advertisement

Since then, white clothing has reemerged as a symbol again and again as women have broken through the glass ceiling in politics on many fronts.

Shirley Chisholm wore white when she became the first African American woman elected to Congress, as well as in her 1972 presidential campaign. When Geraldine Ferraro delivered her acceptance speech as the first female vice president candidate for a major ticket in 1984, she also wore white. 

Clinton herself donned a white pantsuit (another sartorial choice highly associated with the candidate) for the third presidential debate. 

On social media, the #wearwhitetovote hashtag has been picking up momentum as Election Day has drawn closer. 

Advertisement

 

Today, the hashtag has been flooded with voters wearing white to the polls.  

Advertisement

 

 

It looks like Clinton wore greige (off-white?) to cast her vote on Election Day in Chappaqua, New York. 

Advertisement

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accompanied by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, right, gives a thumbs up to supporters outside Douglas G. Grafflin School in Chappaqua, N.Y., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, after voting.AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

 

NOW WATCH: Watch Hillary Clinton vote in New York

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article