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Dr Mary Walker received her medical degree in 1855. At the start of the Civil War there were only a handful of women and they were generally not well accepted. Throughout her life, Dr Walker would confront repeated challenges to her right to practice medicine on the basis of her gender.
Dr Walker’s clothing also brought controversy. Her parents, her father a self-taught local doctor and farmer, considered corsets and other tight fitting items unhealthy. In 1861 Dr Walker’s garb consisted of a one-piece linen “undersuit”, slacks made like men’s and buttoned to the waist of the undersuit, and an upper garment resembling a knee-length dress, cinched at the waist with long sleeves, high neck, and full skirt.
Dr Walker had yearned to be commissioned into the Union Army but because of her gender, she was denied. To practice medicine, Dr Walker provided her services for rations and tent. Dr Mary Walker was presented the medal of honor for her meritorious services in Nov 1865. In 1918 a revision of conditions for the medal presentation, (not authorized for civilians) resulted in revocation of the award to 910 former recipients; Walker was one. Dr Walker wore the medal daily throughout the rest of her life
Dr Walker exceeded the limits of gender tolerance for
her era. She was a bright and talented female patriot who determined to
serve her country as she saw fit and struggled to gain approval for doing
so.
