Harriet N. Austin

Harriet N. Austin (1826–1891) was an American physician, dress reformer, and advocate for women's rights. She was a prominent figure in the water cure movement in the United States and is best known for her involvement in the development of the Bloomer costume, a type of dress reform that aimed to provide women with a healthier and more practical clothing option compared to the restrictive fashions of the 19th century.

Born in Connecticut, Austin pursued her education in medicine at a time when it was rare for women to do so. She graduated from the Central Medical College of Syracuse, New York, one of the few medical schools that accepted female students. After obtaining her degree, she practiced medicine in New York and became deeply involved in the water cure movement, which advocated for the use of water therapy as a natural remedy for various ailments.

Austin's interest in health extended beyond traditional medicine to include concerns about the negative impact of contemporary women's fashion on physical well-being. She collaborated with Amelia Bloomer, a fellow women's rights activist, in promoting the Bloomer costume, which consisted of a short dress worn over trousers. This attire was designed to allow greater freedom of movement and was considered radical at the time for challenging conventional norms of female dress.

Throughout her career, Austin lectured extensively on health, dress reform, and women's rights, contributing to the broader discourse on women's emancipation and social reform. She was associated with the Oneida Community in New York, a utopian community known for its progressive views on gender equality and communal living.

Austin's work in medicine, dress reform, and advocacy for women's rights left a lasting impact on the movements she was involved in. Her efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and greater autonomy for women were part of the broader 19th-century reform movements that sought to improve societal conditions and expand rights and opportunities for women.