Women’s History Month: Queen Esther, Women’s Advocacy and Commitment to Justice
A 5th Century BCE Young Woman Struggles for Justice and Equity — The Timeless Role of Women as Advocates
March is a month of recognition and action — a time when we celebrate Women’s History Month, honoring the resilience and leadership of women throughout history. It is also the observance of Purim, a Jewish holiday commemorating Esther, a young 5th-century BCE woman whose courage in standing against injustice to save the lives of her community has been read throughout centuries. These two observances coincide this year, serving as a potent reminder that women have always been at the forefront of advocacy, justice, health equity and people’s survival.
Esther’s story is one of immense bravery. A young teenager risks her life by approaching the King of Persia — and ruler of more than 120 countries — uninvited to expose Haman’s, the king’s most senior advisor, deadly plot against her people. In that moment, she became one of the earliest voices for those who had none, proving that advocacy finds a home among people of courage and conscience. Today, women embody that same fearless spirit, particularly in health, as the primary decision-makers and advocates for their families and nations.
Women: Frontline Advocates for Health
The data confirms what experience has long shown: women are the primary health decision-makers in their families. Numerous studies reveal that:
• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women make 80% of health care decisions in the United States80% of all health decisions are made by women, whether for themselves, their children, spouses, partners or aging parents
• Women spend 50% more time than men providing care for a family member, managing medical appointments, dealing with health insurance companies, and arranging medication access notes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• The Family Caregiver Alliance reports women are more likely to advocate for a family member’s health needs, ask doctors pressing questions, and ensure treatment regimens are followed.
Despite shouldering the responsibility for others’ health, women often face gender bias in medicine, with their symptoms dismissed, conditions underdiagnosed, and pain underestimated. This paradox places them in a position where they must do for their loved ones and themselves.
Haman’s Modern Counterparts: Barriers to Women’s Health and Advocacy
In the Purim story, Haman represents more than a historical villain — he embodies systemic oppression and the abuse of power that puts innocent people’s lives at risk. Today, his modern counterparts can be found in the barriers that prevent equitable health access, particularly for women and people of color:
• Gender bias in diagnosis and treatment: Women with heart disease are more likely to be misdiagnosed, and conditions like endometriosis take an average of 8–10 years to diagnose because women’s pain is often dismissed
• Maternal mortality and reproductive health disparities: In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Access to reproductive healthcare remains a battleground
• The unpaid labor of caregiving: Women serve as the backbone of caregiving — often sacrificing their health, careers, and well-being for the sake of their families, with little societal support.
These challenges make it clear that health inequities are not just statistics but life-or-death realities. And, like Queen Esther, women demonstrate incredible courage to engage.
Modern-Day Esthers: Women Advocating for Change
Around the globe, women often lead the charge for health equity:
• Patient advocates are pushing for more research on diseases that disproportionately affect women
• Mothers of children with rare diseases visit members of Congress to advocate for policies that ensure access to life-saving treatments
• Doctors and nurses are demanding better policies to protect maternal health and address racial disparities in care
• Scientists and researchers have been working to close the gender gap in clinical trials, ensuring that women’s bodies are studied with the same rigor as men’s.
Their struggles may differ from Esther’s, but the life-and-death stakes are just as high. These women — like Esther — understand that leadership is not about seeking power but using influence to protect and heal others.
Courage in the Face of Resistance
When Esther chose to approach the king, she knew she was risking her life. The law in ancient Persia was clear: approaching the king without being summoned could result in death. But the alternative — doing nothing — would condemn her people and, eventually, her to that fate.
Women in health advocacy face challenges. Ensuring their voices are heard requires learning more about health conditions, engaging with health professionals, and connecting — even creating — with advocacy groups to push for change. Advocating for a loved one often means navigating a complex, chaotic health system.
Advocacy does not mean working against industry — it means working with all stakeholders, from health providers to researchers, policymakers, and product innovators, to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Like Esther, today’s patient advocates and health leaders recognize that influence is not about opposition but collaboration — bringing together diverse voices to improve health outcomes for all.
For Such a Time as This: A Call to Action
The words of Mordecai to Esther still ring true today:
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house, you alone will escape… And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14)
Whether you are a caregiver, doctor, policymaker, scientist, or advocate, this is your moment. The health of families, communities, and future generations depends on those willing to step forward, engage, and push for improvements in patient care.
Women’s History Month and Purim reinforce that advocacy is not just a choice but a responsibility to make a difference. Esther’s story is not about seizing power but using whatever influence you have to protect others.
If you are in a position to advocate for better health, support patient rights, or help bridge the gap between medical advancements and those who need them — this is your time. Like Esther, the moment to act is now.
“Who knows if you were made for such a time as this?”
