Dr. Walker's parents embraced gender equality and encouraged their daughters to dress in practical clothing. Dr. Walker was strongly opposed to traditional womens dress arguing that it impeded circulation and mobility and that it was uncomfortable with long trailing skirts which were unsanitary. 

Dr. Walker was frequently arrested for wearing mens clothing which was widely unaccepted as it was considered evidence of homosexuality. When criticized she responded with, "I don't wear men's clothes, I wear my own clothes". 

In 1866, Dr. Walker was made president of the National Dress Reform Association. 

 "Women have gone to the 'battle Held,' fought and died in their country's cause, been willing martyrs, and you have not heard of them! Women have helped to gain the elective franchise that you to-day enjoy, and now you thrust her away from the polls, as though she were not worthy to enjoy what she has fotight for by your sire's side,"

Dr. Walker was adamant that all women, regardless of age or color, deserved the right to vote, and felt that no amendment was necessary because the Constitution already granted women the right to vote. 

“The greatest of pains was taken at the beginning of the four months’ work in framing the Constitution of the United States not to offend any class of citizens. They did not commence ‘We, the Army and Navy’ or ‘We, the freeholders,’ or ‘We, the men,’ but we ‘We, the people.’”

Dr. Walker testified before the Committee on the Judiciary twice. She discussed how women are granted the right to vote by the Constitution, but lacked the resources to prove it. In a conversation with Senator Sumner she states, “He said ‘Dr. Walker, I am astonished at your coming to me with such an argument.’ I  began to wilt. I said, ‘Why are you astonished; is it not true?’ He said ‘It is true, and no jurist ever saw the Constitution in its true light in regard to women and a woman's brain has seen it.’ And with a good deal of enthusiasm he said ‘You, Dr. Walker, have opened the door through which all women will yet walk and vote.’  In that same hour I went to Chief Justice Chase without letting him know I had seen Senator Sumner and, he said almost precisely the same thing.’”