There are dozens of different designs for awareness ribbons, and many colors represent dozens of different causes. Awareness ribbons, all told, have hundreds of meanings, and ribbons are used to represent new causes frequently. While the wearer will sometimes just need to explain which meaning of their ribbon it stands for, there are some ribbons that typically, or more often, stand for one cause.
Pink and Red
Although pink ribbons are known for their common and consistent use as a symbol for breast cancer awareness, childhood cancer and cleft palates have also been represented by the color. Red ribbons helped spark the widespread use of awareness ribbons when they were used as a symbol of AIDS in the early 1990's, but have also represented substance abuse awareness as a symbol for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the DARE anti-drug program.
Purples
Purple, violet and periwinkle ribbons have represented a number of causes, including diseases like lupus, cystic fibrosis,and Alzheimer's disease, social causes like religious tolerance and domestic violence awareness, and events like Worker's Memorial Day. Dozens of other causes have been represented by purple awareness ribbons as well, as presumably more will continue to be.
Blues
Like purple, blue has represented many causes, including child abuse awareness, Canada's campaign against smoking and secondhand smoke, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's campaign for free speech online and International No Diet Day. Navy blue has been used specifically for sex trafficking and slavery awareness while sky blue has specifically represented prostate cancer. Although teal has other meanings as well, it's been used particularly for gynecological cancers. The Jade Ribbon Campaign is an organization working in Asian and Pacific Islander communities to spread awareness about Hepatitis B and liver cancer and is the most noteworthy association with jade ribbons.
Other Colors
Many other colors of ribbon have been used for awareness campaigns, including orange, yellow, gold, silver and grey, but all represent a number of different causes. A few colors tend to more frequently relate to a campaign around one topic or theme. While white more often stands for things related to innocence, black is often connected with mourning, like in its use after the shooting at Virginia Tech, and green is often connected to concerns for the environment.
Designs
A few other designs stand out for special meanings. Although blue and pink ribbons may mean a few things, they typically relate to birth, as a symbol of pro-life, infertility and pregnancy and infant loss. Combinations of colors often mark a ribbon for a specific cause, like gold and silver for diseases and disorders related to hearing and the ear. Flag ribbons are a symbol of patriotism, a jigsaw puzzle piece patterned ribbon represents autism, rainbow ribbons represent causes related to gay pride or gay rights and a lace ribbons is used for osteoporosis.
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