Mary Edwards Walker was a noble woman whose early upbringings molded her beliefs. She would take her convictions to the grave. She would not allow anyone to tell her what to believe or what not to believe. Walker was a revolutionary thinker, a persistent abolitionist, and an award-winning surgeon. She changed the face of medicine at the time of the civil war. She paved the way for women’s rights, as well as women’s health by campaigning against societal gender norms.
Mary Walker was born on November 26, 1832 in Oswego Town, New York.
She was raised in a family with five other children. The Walker family owned a farm and all the kids would have to do chores to help. Most of the chores had been viewed as work that only a man could do. Walker’s …show more content…
Women were expected to wear constricting garments such as corsets and garters. Also, other garbs, like long skirts, were often dangerous because they could spread disease and were often flammable because of all the material. With Walker’s background in medicine, she knew that these trends were not healthy. She knew that something had to be done about it and that society would not like the change. In fact, Walker was even arrested for wearing a long coat and pants. “After her work in the war efforts, she lectured about her ideas on women’s dress reform.” Walker sought change for her fellow women. She sketched an image of an under suit that was not restricting and that would allow her to perform all the tasks that a male could. This under suit included a loose blouse and baggy trousers. This was the complete opposite look that society came to know and accept. Walker described her feelings on the topic, “I wish it was understood that I wear this style of dress from the highest, the purest, and the noblest principle.” Walker thought that she should not have been given any credit for speaking her beliefs because she knew that there was not another option for her because she was so strong in her convictions. Walker also advocated for women’s rights. When she married her husband, she did not take his last name because it was a “barbarous” idea how a woman would become chained to her husband after marriage. Walker would preach the motto until she died, “…every woman should be able to pursue her dreams and wear whatever she wanted while doing
Mary Walker was born on November 26, 1832 in Oswego Town, New York.
She was raised in a family with five other children. The Walker family owned a farm and all the kids would have to do chores to help. Most of the chores had been viewed as work that only a man could do. Walker’s …show more content…
Women were expected to wear constricting garments such as corsets and garters. Also, other garbs, like long skirts, were often dangerous because they could spread disease and were often flammable because of all the material. With Walker’s background in medicine, she knew that these trends were not healthy. She knew that something had to be done about it and that society would not like the change. In fact, Walker was even arrested for wearing a long coat and pants. “After her work in the war efforts, she lectured about her ideas on women’s dress reform.” Walker sought change for her fellow women. She sketched an image of an under suit that was not restricting and that would allow her to perform all the tasks that a male could. This under suit included a loose blouse and baggy trousers. This was the complete opposite look that society came to know and accept. Walker described her feelings on the topic, “I wish it was understood that I wear this style of dress from the highest, the purest, and the noblest principle.” Walker thought that she should not have been given any credit for speaking her beliefs because she knew that there was not another option for her because she was so strong in her convictions. Walker also advocated for women’s rights. When she married her husband, she did not take his last name because it was a “barbarous” idea how a woman would become chained to her husband after marriage. Walker would preach the motto until she died, “…every woman should be able to pursue her dreams and wear whatever she wanted while doing