Clara Barton the Feminist

 

Clara Barton set a precedent for women to have an integral role in the field of medicine. In the early 19th century, it was rare for women to be involved in medicine at all, as many people thought women didn’t have enough stamina or courage to be involved in wartime medicine (27).

 

Initially, Barton worked from her own apartment to meet and care for men. Realizing the need for help in the field, however, Barton then requested to be sent directly into the battlefield. Despite the overwhelming lack of personnel and resources, her request was met with strong opposition, because most people thought that, as a woman, she would simply get in the way of the "real doctors." Despite the resistance, however, Barton transferred to the field and was incredibly influential (28).

 

In 1862, Barton finally received permission to become an official battlefield nurse (29). Inspired by Barton's courage, many women followed in Barton's footsteps and became battlefield nurses, and even full-time nurses in actual hospitals. Today, women's roles in medicine are not restricted only to nursing. Today, women are nurses, doctors, physician assistants, surgeons, and even run hospitals.