Elizabeth Blackwell: The First Female Physician

During the 1800s women had very few privileges in America, but Elizabeth Blackwell was the turning point since she was the first female physician. Blackwell grew up in England until she was eleven, when her father moved her family to America. While in America, she moved from New York to Cincinnati to Kentucky. Her family was well off, but she had a very large family. In 1838 tragedy struck her family when her father died of bilious fever, and Elizabeth was forced to work to earn money. While taking care of a neighbor, a lady suggested that she look into becoming a doctor because she was very good at treating the sick. She originally thought that she could not become a doctor, but that soon changed. After she began to teach she began to contemplate
the idea of becoming a doctor. Blackwell had to work to earn money to go to medical college, but her experiences had taught her how to be responsible and able to handle tough things that came her way. Blackwell had to find a medical school to even accept her which took much courage. Blackwell’s time in medical school was difficult, but she made many important changes to the American society as we know it. She was very influential in American and English medical schools and hospitals. Blackwell had to be very candid so that men would not overlook her. She started with meek beginnings, but with hard work and dedication she became the lady that would lead others to pursuing their dreams. After paying her way through, and graduating from, medical school she pursued the dream of working in the surgical area of a hospital. Blackwell was a very impressive, bold woman who started many privileges for women including basic rights, as well as, women going to college and even becoming doctors.
Having to get a job when she was just a teenager was the start of Blackwell’s strong will and responsible behavior. Blackwell began teaching after her father died, and she learned many valuable lessons. Teaching school also trained her in how to show others how to take care of themselves. This helped her as she became the first female physician. During this process she became the bold woman who is known today for her movement for women’s equality. The process of becoming a physician was difficult, and finally after applying to many schools the Geneva Medical College accepted her application and gave her a spot in their medical college. Blackwell was a very determined lady, and she did not stop after receiving her degree at Geneva Medical College. She went further and went to Paris and London for more thorough training. Her determination led her to becoming the first woman physician and opening the medical field up to women. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was a very influential woman who used her many life lessons to further herself in a career once designed only for men, but now with her help a woman can become a physician or practically anything she desires.
While Blackwell’s time at Geneva Medical College was challenging, should she have given up, America would not have the same freedoms for women as we have today.
Many of Blackwell’s professors and fellow classmates were very much against women doctors. Being the only female in her class made it very difficult. Her entire college experience was filled with difficulties and trials, but she made it through medical school. This began Blackwell’s career as a physician. After medical school she become a very active member of society and began fighting for women’s freedoms. Blackwell began touring medical hospitals after medical school. The one thing Blackwell was not allowed to do as a woman was enter the men’s section of the hospital. Her approach to this matter was not to get upset, but to be persistent. Though she was not ever allowed to go into the men’s section, she was able to open her own practice with her sister. Blackwell’s years in medical school and after were challenging, but she was able to overcome so that women can have freedoms that were not available during the
1800s. Throughout Dr.
Blackwell’s life, she had to overcome many trials, especially women not being able to have careers and privileges men had. Blackwell began the first movement for women to become part of the medical field. According to Julia Boyd, Blackwell and Florence Nightingale were two friends that were very influential during the time of the Civil War. If Blackwell and Nightingale would not have overcome odds, women would still only be housewives or midwives. Through many trials Dr. Blackwell soon became a legacy in the advancement of women in the medical field, but she also helped women to gain privileges. Blackwell was not well respected during her time. Instead people, especially men, thought she was not able to be a doctor and that she was overstepping her bounds. Blackwell contributed to the beginning of the women’s rights movements as well as to science. According to Regina Morantz-Sanchez, Dr. Blackwell was a feminist and she would be proud to see what has become of women’s rights. Blackwell becoming the first physician was one of her first steps in her helping to develop the rights women have
today.
Blackwell was a very impressive, bold woman who started many privileges for women including basic rights as well as women going to college and even becoming doctors. Blackwell was a very prominent woman who overcame many adversities to become the first woman doctor. Trying to get schools and hospitals to think of women as equal to men was one of the very important things she did during her lifetime. She became the first female doctor and started her own medical practice. Her being accepted to medical school and becoming a M.D. was the first step in her career. Blackwell wrote her mother daily with a very open mind telling her all about the things she thought she could do the help hospitals improve. Blackwell toured many hospitals and began the movement for women to not only be doctors, but also have other professions that were only for men at that time. Blackwell was a very influential woman. All of her trials should be a courage booster for any woman. Since Blackwell was able to become a doctor when that was unheard of, any woman or man can accomplish anything. Blackwell is a very impressive lady who greatly influenced the America we know today.