Dr. Mary Walker

There are many great women in our history. A very notorious and interesting character during her time period, Dr.Mary Walker was one of the many heroic, strong women of our lengthy history. Dr.Mary Walker was way ahead of her time.

Born in 1832, Dr. Walker lived a very controversial life. She attended Syracuse Medical School to become a doctor. Dr.Walker was one of the first women to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was a very independent soul and defied the conventions of society at every turn. As a testiment to her non-conformity, Dr.Walker chose to "dress like a man." She refused to wear corsets and uncomfortable dress and instead opted to wear what she viewed as much more practicle trousers, jackets and top hats. This exerpt from an article in one newspaper during her life,describes an incident in which Dr.Walker went into a women's restroom and "nearly caused a riot":
From a 1919 newspaper article in the Jefferson City, MO Democrat Tribune on September 3, 1919:

When Dr. Mary Walker, the woman who wore men’s clothing visited the rest room for women at the St. Louis Worlds Fair, she nearly caused a riot… “There appeared on the threshold a neat dapper little man in high silk hat, frock coat, irreproachable trousers, and a tie and a winning smile. Relaxed figures grew tense and an audible gasp smote the air. One woman clasped her just removed shirt waist on her ample bosom and exclaimed in hoarse tense tragedy, ‘My Gawd’. Dr. Mary’s card was read by an attendant and finally the women resigned themselves to negligee in the presence of an absolutely strange pair of occupied trousers.”
I find it very interesting that in this article, that because Dr.Walker was dressed in men's clothing everyone they had to check her card to verify that she was a woman.

However despite society's view of her, at the start of the American Civil War in 1861, Dr. Walker was knew that she wanted to help. But because she was a woman the military denied her the opportunity to make commission as a medical officer in the war. Out of her incredible sense of duty, she volunteered anyways. Dr.Walker was able to prove herself to be equal of the male surgeons and she was eventually promoted to assitant surgeon of the 52nd Ohio Infantry. After the end of the war, she was the first woman to recieve the Medal of Honor. Unfortnately in a complete act of discrimination, Dr.Walker's Medal of Honor was revoked because there were "questions surrounding the terms used to justify this prestigious award." Dr.Walker defiantly refused to give up her medal for the rest of her life. After her death, the Army board restored the medal to Dr.Walker and admitted that she "had been a victim of sex discrimination... citing her for 'distinguished gallantry, self-sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and unflinching loyalty to her country.'"

When reading about this unflinchingly strong, courageous woman, I was inspired by her complete devotion to be herself despite the intense societal pressures for her to be otherwise. She could have easily conformed to the expectations of her, however she chose to be how she wished despite the hardship and struggles that this decision created for her throughout her entire life. Dr.Walker is one of the countless women whose activism and strength laid the foundation for the beginning for the equality of women.