When did health care for women start?

As more women went to work, the issue of women's health became a more prominent topic of debate across the country. Even though there were still more women in lower pay scales and ranks, they were more visible in professional settings. Still, many women did not have basic health insurance, which has been a problem for feminists and others who have wanted to improve women's health care for a long time. So, what's the history of health care for women?

During World War II, women's health was a big deal, especially when it came to giving birth. There were a lot of problems, but in 1912, the Federal Children's Bureau (FHS) put out two pamphlets for women about public health. These pamphlets, called "Baby Care and Prenatal Care," were printed and passed out to many people. By the end of the century, hundreds of health agencies were making different materials for women and children to learn about public health.

Women had always been caregivers, but Metrodora was the first woman who was known to have been a doctor. Metrodora, who lived between 200 and 400 CE, wrote the oldest medical book. There are now obstetrical nurses, generalist nurses, and mental health nurses who work in women's health care. This article discusses the history of women's health care in the United States.

In 1960, the Food and Drug Administration gave the OK for selling the first birth control pill. It was ordered by Margaret Sanger and paid for by Katherine McCormick. In 1964, the Equal Pay Act was passed. It made it illegal to mistreat women because of who they were. But for their health, women still had to go through painful procedures. Even though women's health is still changing, discoveries make life better for all women.

In the United States, Roe v. Wade made it clear that a woman has the right to an abortion. In this case, the court said that limiting a woman's ability to have children was against the 14th Amendment's "Due Process" clause. The FDA made the Dalkon Shield intrauterine device illegal because it could cause pelvic inflammatory disease. The National Women's Health Network was started in 1975 to give women a say in the U.S. health care system.

In the 1960s, people who cared about women's health started talking about birth control pills risks. The FDA introduced a pamphlet about the risks and benefits of oral contraceptives, like the birth control pill. Even the back of the tampon box had a warning about toxic shock syndrome. Food labels became more uniform in the second half of the 20th century. These changes helped make health care easier for women and less dangerous.

Two important events mark the beginnings of health care for women. First, in 1873, Elizabeth Blackwell went to school to become a doctor. She started the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in the end. In 1868, she was one of the people who helped create the New York Medical College for Women. The Library of Congress has a picture of her. She was one of the most influential women's rights activists in the fight for free birth control. As the birth control industry grew, it led to the creation of many different groups and institutions.

Nursing as a profession has been around for a very long time. It was made back in the 1800s. Florence Nightingale is often thought of as the founder of professional nursing. Nightingale was a wealthy British girl who went against social norms by becoming a nurse. In the past, it was considered rude for well-bred women to nurse strangers. But during her life, she changed the way women were cared for.

Nursing was a big part of helping the poor in the early days of Christianity. Some early Christians' missions were feeding the poor, caring for the sick, giving skimpy clothes, and welcoming strangers. These efforts continued as monastic orders increased in the fifth and sixth centuries. Monasteries also started making their wards for their patients. During the Middle Ages, nursing became a way to give spiritual food and comfort. During this time, men did most of the nursing work in both the East and the West. During the Black Plague, the Alexian Brothers ensured that sick people got medical care.