The New York Times pointed out at the time that white was one of the three main colors of the women’s suffrage movement. The National Woman’s Party from the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington quotes a mission statement for the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, which says, “The colors adopted by the union are purple, white and gold, selected for the significance they bear in the work the union has undertaken. Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause. White, the emblem of purity, symbolizes the quality of our purpose.”

The Times also noted that Geraldine Ferraro wore white when she accepted the nomination to become the first female candidate for vice president for a major American political party at the 1984 Democratic convention.