Mary Edwards Walker

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

Monday is her birthday and I thought it might be good to have the weekend to think about her achievements and legacy. A feminist, active in the campaign against slavery, prisoner of war and surgeon. She was an avid supporter of dress reform for women and often wore pants. (Born 26 November 1832 – Died 21 February 1919) She didn't live to see women get the vote, was very active in the struggle for suffrage and is the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_325.html

[niyad]

1. k and r

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. Thanks n/t

[Little Star]

2. Another woman I've never heard of. Thanks for the post! n/t

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. You're welcome n/t

[ismnotwasm]

5. A great one!

Thank you. This is important to note, I think

In the mid-nineteenth century, as women were campaigning for a more public and professional role in society, clothing became a central issue in the struggle for women's rights. Feminists argued that tight corsets and long heavy skirts were bad for women's health and even designed to limit the possible activities that women could undertake. Amelia Bloomer, a campaigner for women's rights and a publisher, took to wearing a homemade dress and trouser combination that provided greater movement without compromising 'female modesty.' The Bloomer costume, as it came to be known, was quickly taken up by other feminists, and abandoned almost as quickly once it became obvious that the clothing was causing more of a stir than the politics. Many women experienced harassment when wearing the costume out in public, and the newspapers were filled with derogatory cartoons lampooning the outfit and its proponents. Twenty years later, as the suffragette movement's call for votes for women drew national attention, dress reform again became a topic of public debate, but this time, feminists were wary of the bloomer controversy and tended to disassociate themselves from women wearing any version of the costume. Dr. Mary Walker wore the bloomer dress until the late 1870s, when she began dressing in men's clothes. She was arrested for impersonating a man several times, although she argued that Congress had awarded her special permission to dress in this way.

She was a badass. Those corsets were ridiculous, and caused ill- health and sometimes were instrumental in deaths. Another way women subjected their bodies to mistreatment, much as certain unnecessary surgeries or the disease of anorexia do today

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. "...arrested for impersonating a man..."

Good one! We could get Romney on that today. Is that a felony?

[ismnotwasm]

7. Heh

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

8. I have some vague memories...

...that some of those corsets and binding garments had not only made breathing a problem but that some had caused what I imagine may have been stress fractures of ribs. It took a doctor to figure this out?!?!

[ismnotwasm]

9. Wiki has a decent page on it

It's a long list so ill just link to it



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_tight_lacing_on_the_body