"Votes for Women"

 
Source: http://www.jeffbridgman.com/inventory/index.php?page=out&id=2377

Who/what: This is a suffragette sash worn by the Women’s Political Union (WPU) in New York as part of the women’s suffrage movement. These sashes were worn as a form of identity for women who were a part of the movement, and while the movement initially involved only upper-class socialite women, the movement was eventually expanded to include working class women as well. Suffragette sashes such as this are icons of the movement, used be women as a part of body rhetoric to enact change and fight for the right to vote.

Where: This sash was primarily worn by members of the WPU in New York City, however images and articles of women fighting for suffrage spread across the nation. The WPU eventually merged with the Congressional Union, another suffragette group, and then became the National Woman’s Party.

When: In 1910, the WPU was established in New York City and organized the first large-scale suffrage parade. It’s leader, Harriot Blatch, borrowed colors and imagery from the British suffragette movement that was happening around the same time.

Why: Suffragette sashes like these were truly iconic of the women’s suffrage movement and became synonymous in some ways with the women who were a part of the movement. It is very interesting that such a simple item, inscribed with the words, “Votes for Women,” can symbolize such a large part of a historic movement.