Women’s History Month
What is Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month is a time to honor the contributions of women throughout history and recognize the struggles they’ve faced, yet women’s health and disability advocacy are often overlooked in these conversations.
This month, I want to highlight the historical fight for women’s health, the women who shaped disability advocacy, and the current threats to the progress and health of women.
A Quick Glance into the History of Women’s Rights
1848: The first women’s rights convention is held, launching the suffrage movement.
1920: The 19th Amendment is ratified, granting white women the right to vote, leaving Black, Indigenous, and other women of color excluded.
1965: The Voting Rights Act is passed, finally protecting the right to vote for Black women and other marginalized communities facing voter suppression.
1963: The Equal Pay Act is signed into law, prohibiting wage discrimination based on sex.
1973: Roe v. Wade legalizes abortion nationwide, affirming the right to reproductive autonomy.
2022: The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending federal protection for abortion access
2025: DEIA rollbacks threaten women's rights, healthcare, and disability protections across federal agencies
A Quick Glimpse into the History of Women’s Health
1800s: Women’s pain is dismissed as “hysteria,” leading to forced institutionalization.
1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S.
1951: Henrietta Lacks’ cells are taken without consent, leading to crucial medical discoveries.
1960: The birth control pill is approved, but women suffer severe side effects due to a lack of research.
1993: The NIH Revitalization Act is passed, requiring women to be included in clinical research.
2025: Women’s health research still lags behind, with diseases like endometriosis, PCOS, and autoimmune disorders being underfunded and ignored.
Disability Advocates Who Changed History
Women with disabilities have been at the forefront of change, yet their names are rarely recognized. Here are just a few disabled women who helped shape history:
Mary Lou Ballweg: Founder of the Endometriosis Association, fighting for research and awareness.
Judy Heumann: A leading disability rights activist who helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Harriet Tubman: Lived with seizures after a head injury from an overseer, yet led enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Alice Wong: Disability advocate and creator of the Disability Visibility Project.
Henrietta Lacks, The Woman Who Changed Medicine Without Her Consent
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a Black mother of five, went to Johns Hopkins Hospital for cervical cancer treatment. Without her knowledge, doctors took samples of her cancer cells during a biopsy. Unlike other cells, hers didn’t die—they multiplied rapidly. These “HeLa cells” revolutionized medical research, helping develop the polio vaccine, advancing cancer and virus research, and contributing to the COVID-19 vaccine. To this day, her family has yet to receive recognition or compensation. for this. Henrietta’s story is a powerful reminder of the medical exploitation of Black women, and her legacy continues to shape ethics in science.
Disabled Female Artists Who Incorporated Disability Into Their Work
Frida Kahlo | Painter
Chronic Pain, Spinal Issues, Neurological Disorders – After polio and a traumatic bus accident left her with severe chronic pain and spinal damage, Frida painted her suffering, medical procedures, and emotional turmoil in works like The Broken Column (left) and Henry Ford Hospital (right).
Dorothea Lange | Photographer
(Polio, Chronic Pain, Mobility Issues) – Dorthera contracted polio as a child, which left her with a permanent limp. This shaped her empathetic documentary photography, particularly her work during the Great Depression (Migrant Mother), capturing resilience and human struggle.
Yayoi Kusama | Comtemporary Art
(Mental Health Conditions, Hallucinations, Anxiety, Depression) – A world-renowned Japanese artist known for her immersive infinity rooms and polka dot patterns. She has openly spoken about experiencing hallucinations, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies, which deeply influence her work.
Georgia O’Keeffe | PaInter
(Vision Impairment, Neurological Issues) – Developed macular degeneration, leading to significant vision loss. She adapted her painting process by using peripheral vision and auditory cues to judge her brushstrokes. Despite near-blindness, she continued painting with assistance and later transitioned to sculpting in clay.
How Trump’s Actions are Impacting Women
Executive Order 14151: “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing"
This order mandates the termination of all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives within federal agencies. Federal agencies have also been directed to remove DEIA-related content from their platforms, including educational materials on women's health.
Consequences:
Reduced Funding: Vital studies on conditions predominantly affecting women, such as endometriosis and cervical cancer, may lose financial support, hindering advancements in treatment and prevention.
Greater Health Disparities: Eliminating DEIA programs exacerbates existing health inequities, leaving women and marginalized groups without healthcare solutions.
Information Access: Women seeking reliable information on reproductive health, maternal care, and disease prevention may find fewer resources, impacting their ability to make informed health decisions for themselves.
Public Awareness: The absence of authoritative information hampers public health education efforts, potentially leading to increased incidence of preventable diseases.
Executive Order 14173: “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity"
This order weakens policies protecting women with disabilities and other minorities from discrimination by prohibiting federal contractors from implementing DEIA.
Consequences:
Employment Discrimination: Women with disabilities may face increased biases in hiring and workplace practices. Employers may also choose not to provide accommodations and foster inclusive environments.
Legal Recourse: Dismantling DEIA initiatives weakens mechanisms that address grievances related to discrimination, leaving the affected individuals with limited resources and legal support.
Undermining Title IX Protections
Policy Changes: The Department of Education reinterpreted Title IX, reducing protections against gender-based discrimination in educational settings.
Consequences:
Campus Safety: Students may experience diminished support when reporting sexual harassment or assault, compromising their safety and well-being.
Educational Equity: Without robust enforcement of Title IX, gender disparities in educational opportunities and resources could widen, affecting women's academic and professional futures.
Reducing Reproductive Health Services
Policy Changes: The administration's actions have led to reduced access to reproductive health services, including contraception and abortion care.
Consequences:
Healthcare Access: Women, especially those in marginalized communities, may struggle to obtain essential reproductive health services, leading to adverse health outcomes.
Autonomy: Restrictions on reproductive rights undermine women's ability to make decisions about their own bodies and futures.
What you can do
We’re in this together. Let’s work to create positive changes that will be celebrated during Women’s History Month in the years to come.
Stay Informed: Educate yourself on policy changes affecting women's health and rights.
Advocate: Support organizations fighting for health equity and women's rights.
Vote: Participate in elections to ensure representation that prioritizes inclusive policies.
Share: Use your platform to raise awareness about these critical issues.
Subscribe: Join my monthly newsletter (link in bio) for disability and art updates!
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Thanks for reading!
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