Credit: Green Kerchief by Prensa Obrera / Ojo Obrero Fotografía / Bernardo Cornejo Malz, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you’ve seen any pictures of feminist protests that have been going on across Latin America in the past few years, you may have noticed that something stands out in most of them: a green handkerchief. This is not a fashion accessory, but an emblem of the feminist movement in the region, symbolizing the fight for reproductive rights and women’s equality across the region.
A History of Women’s Movements in Argentina
The use of handkerchiefs as a form of resistance has roots in Argentina’s history with “Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo” (The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo), an organization of mothers who cover their heads with white handkerchiefs while searching for their children who disappeared during the dictatorship. Inspired by this legacy, the green handkerchief has become a modern symbol of feminist resistance, worn publicly by supporters to signal their commitment to the cause.
The Green Handkerchief As A Rallying Cry
The “pañuelo verde” (green handkerchief) emerged in Argentina in 2003. It has since been used to symbolize a comprehensive fight, not only for reproductive rights but for the right to access sexual education and contraception. The handkerchief carries the slogan: “Sexual education to decide, contraception not to abort, legal abortion not to die.” This was the main idea of many of the people asking for reproductive rights in Latin America; if these bills were not passed and sexual education was still lacking, unsafe abortions would continue to happen, creating a significant health hazard.
Activists began to refer to their cause as the “Green Wave” (“Marea Verde”), which soon spread across Latin America, inspiring similar movements in countries like Mexico, Chile, and Perú. The Green Wave reached its peak in Argentina in 2020 when, after years of protests and advocacy, the country passed a law legalizing abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Reproductive Rights: Green Versus Blue
From 2016 to 2020, the feminist fight in Latin America was at its peak, with a particularly strong presence among the youth in Argentina. As the green handkerchief became synonymous with the fight for abortion rights, it also sparked a visible opposition movement. In response, anti-abortion activists adopted the light blue handkerchief reading “Save the two lives,” creating what is often referred to as the “Blue Wave.” These opposing symbols made handkerchiefs a visible and powerful way for people, especially the youth, to express their stance on the issue of reproductive rights. These handkerchiefs were worn by many people in Argentina, and you could see them hanging from backpacks, tied around someone’s neck, and worn as bracelets, not only during protests but also on a daily basis.
The green handkerchief became a prominent symbol of unity among Latin women amid the fight for women’s rights in Latin America. As people continue to advocate for legal reforms, the green handkerchief will remain a symbol that unites the movement and symbolizes battles won. Fighting for equality remains essential today, but we can all contribute by making everyday spaces, like the workplace, safer and more inclusive for women and minorities. By listening to their struggles and actively creating supportive environments, we take meaningful steps toward change.
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