"...if you chance to feel that the positions I occupied were rough and unseemly for a woman—I can only reply that they were rough and unseemly for men."
- Clara Barton
"I felt more than ever the necessity of my mission. But I went home out of spirits, I hardly know why. I must work by myself all life long."
- Elizabeth Blackwell, Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women: Autobiographical Sketches
"Methods and conclusions formed by half the race only, must necessarily require revision as the other half of humanity rises into conscious responsibility."
- Elizabeth Blackwell
These women redefined what it meant to be an educated, professional woman, and later left a lasting legacy of equality between men and women in healthcare. They made strong advances toward gender equality in education, which continued to seek reform in later years, fueled by their efforts in the past. These pioneers breached the frontiers of medicine and women's rights, and caused educational and social reform.
"The door that nobody else will go in at, seems always to swing open widely for me."
- Clara Barton
"I have never worked for fame or praise, and shall not feel their loss as I otherwise would. I have never for a moment lost sight of the humble life I was born to, its small environments, and the consequently little right I had to expect much of myself, and shall have the less to censure, or upbraid myself with for the failures I must see myself make."
- Clara Barton
Elizabeth Blackwell and her lasting legacy in healthcare is celebrated with the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, a tremendous honor annually awarded to a woman who has made significant contribution to the promotion of women in medicine.
Schools and streets among other things were named in Baton´s honor. Authors dedicated books to her and her passions, and many sent her inscribed copies of their work. Barton was also awarded national and international honors and accolades. The Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Leadership. named after the founder of the Red Cross, recognizes a voulenteer for their years of service in various leadership positions.
"In 2021, 16.4 million women were employed in the health care and social assistance industry. This was 77.6 percent of the total 21.2 million workers in the industry. Looking at the component industries that make up health care and social assistance, women counted for 75.0 percent of total employment (5.2 million) in hospitals, 77.4 percent of total employment (8.3 million) in health services, except hospitals, and 84.0 percent of total employment (2.6 million) in social assistance."
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics