Twentieth century Suffrage ribbons were used primarily as a type of credential for both conventions and important gatherings, the same purpose that they had served in the previous century. Most of the larger state conventions, such as those held in Ohio and Pennsylvania, featured new ribbons almost every year, and even some of the smaller states such as Nevada and Iowa produced convention ribbons.
Generic ribbons that simply conveyed the message “Votes for Women” were for the most part used in parades and marches along with pieces that identified participating groups such as the “Men’s League for Women Suffrage.” However, even though ribbons were larger than buttons, they were far less visible than the omnipresent parade sash, the display of which could dominate a march.