The pink knitted “pussyhat” with cat ears became the defining visual symbol of the 2017 Women’s March, created to reclaim language from Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape and create solidarity through craft activism.
Origins
The Pussyhat Project was launched in November 2016 by Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman, two Los Angeles women who wanted to create a bold visual statement for the Women’s March. The name referenced both cat ears and reclaimed Trump’s vulgar comments about grabbing women “by the pussy.”
Suh and Zweiman released a free knitting pattern and encouraged crafters worldwide to make hats for themselves and others. The project went viral, with knitting circles, yarn stores, and individual crafters producing hundreds of thousands of hats.
Visual Impact
At the January 21, 2017 Women’s March, millions wore pink pussyhats, creating striking aerial photographs of pink-capped crowds. The simple design—bright pink with two corners forming ears—made marchers instantly recognizable and created powerful imagery of solidarity.
The color pink was chosen to symbolize femininity while the cat ears added whimsy and reclaimed “pussy” as a term of empowerment rather than objectification.
Craft Activism
The pussyhat represented a resurgence of “craftivism”—using handicrafts as activism. Knitting circles became organizing spaces, with many participants knitting hats for those who couldn’t attend marches or lacked crafting skills.
The project demonstrated how accessible, low-tech activism could create massive visual impact and bring together diverse participants through shared creative practice.
Later Controversies
Some criticized the hats as excluding trans women and reinforcing gender essentialism. Others noted the pink color and “pussy” reference centered white cisgender women’s experiences. By 2018-2019, the hats were less prevalent at Women’s March events.
References: Pussyhat Project archives, Jayna Zweiman/Krista Suh interviews, craft activism research, Women’s March documentation