What is the significance of Em's white and black headscarves in the novel, Agenda 21?

White is often a color used to describe innocence. Emmeline wears this at the beginning when she is single but able to be paired. While Emmeline wears this, she is ignorant to a lot of the ways the Republic works.

Emmeline dons this headscarf once she becomes a widow after George dies. This, the opposite of the white headscarf, signifies a turning point for her. After George and after she gives birth, Emmeline is almost a completely different person than when she wore the white headscarf.