Conclusion

A common theme with these female physicians was the lack of lasting praise following their deaths. Many of these women made impacts that have yet to be applauded. Tan Yunxian's legacy had several generations not knowing her name. Shi Meiyu and Kang Cheng are not well known either despite their seemingly endless work for their communities and for medicine. Zéng yì and Gù Déhuá have little if any, knowledge about their lives. 

Out of these women, the ones who wrote books were not writing for recognition. None of them were, in fact. Zéng yì and Tan Yunxian wrote simply to aid other women and children. It became obvious that these women never sought the credit for their work. It seems in the dynasties and times they lived, women were not granted the respect they deserved. At some points, women were not even allowed to show their handwriting and penmanship to people outside their household. I argue, therefore, that women's contributions were not acknowledged which led, in part, to the loss of their stories.

Additionally, these women all were affluent and held respect in society. Even Kang Cheng who was adopted found her way into an upper-class household. In addition to their financial and social standing, they all had access to education. Most of the initial education centered around literature and poetry. Interestingly, Tan Yunxian existed as a doctor even as other women in China were just obtaining the right to study and learn poetry. 

Luckily, it is the drive of these women to help people, to serve their families in obedience to filial piety that led them to become physicians. Coincidentally, or maybe not so, they all seemed to have writing and literature skills that paved the way for several written works that added to Chinese medical knowledge. Still, the men in their lives had effects. Men did dictate the choices of many of these women. Gù Déhuá's husband wrote works that might have contained her ideas. Tan Yunxian's grandfather "granted" her the choice to become a doctor. Men remained a controlling factor in these women's lives. 

As the number of female physicians increased, the quality of healthcare for women and children improved greatly. Rather than having male physicians guess, invalidate, or misdiagnose, women now receive thorough, compassionate care. As someone currently immersed in the medical field, one can never underestimate the value of being treated by a physician who can relate to the patient.

This project demonstrates women's empowerment and gives context to China in 2025. Now, China's physician gender distribution is almost 50% to 50% compared to the United States's 38% female to 62% distribution. It is warming to know that the number of female physicians is competitive with the number of male physicians. 

Even if no one ever knew the names of the historical, revolutionary female physicians of China, they might be able to rest easy knowing they created a medical environment for women to excel. Still, I am not satisfied without giving recognition and respect to the women who ultimately shifted China as a whole. This report, nowhere near exhaustive, is the beginning of a road filled with awe and admiration for trailblazing women physicians.