Elizabeth Blackwell: Women In The Medical Field
There was a time in history that women had to fight against sexual prejudices in the work place. Sexual prejudice was particularly clear in the field of medicine as there were no women doctors. One of the first women to pioneer the way for other women in the medical field was Elizabeth Blackwell. It was Blackwell that had the courage and the determination to break the boundaries of these prejudices. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States and an activist for public health that opened doors for other women, creating a new way of thinking for her and future women’s accomplishments in medicine. Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England (“Elizabeth Blackwell”). When Blackwell was young, her parents and siblings moved to the United States and lived in New York, later moving to Cincinnati, OH. Blackwell’s family was very liberal and stressed the importance of education. Blackwell’s father believed that every child should be given an opportunity to develop a talent and strongly encouraged this in his own children. After her father’s death in 1828, Blackwell, her mother, and her two older sisters all worked as educators to help with expenses, starting their own school. When Blackwell was in her 20s, she went to visit a sick friend, who was suffering from
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a terminal disease, most likely uterine cancer (Morantz, 463). This friend was embarrassed to go to male doctors and told Blackwell that she should become a doctor. At first, Blackwell thought the idea was funny, but then realized that she was excited about this challenge and wanted to go to medical school to become the first woman doctor. This would become one of the most important events in history. Blackwell continued to work as a teacher to earn money for medical school and started studying anatomy. When she wasn’t working to earn money for school, she studied books about medicine so she would be ready. Blackwell applied to all of the best medical schools, but was frequently told that women could only be nurses, not doctors. One doctor even suggested that she pretend to be a man to get into medical school (Burby, 14). Of course, this made Blackwell very angry and even more determined.
The road to becoming a doctor was not going to be easy. Blackwell became discouraged until the Geneva Medical College in New York accepted her into their school, which she found out later was a joke. The students had voted her in, not thinking that she would actually attend. But Blackwell was extremely dedicated and showed up to pursue her studies, even in the middle of all of the prejudices surrounding women becoming medical doctors. “She was ostracized by educators and patients alike at times, though it was also reported that uncouth male students became particularly studious and mature in her presence” (“Elizabeth Blackwell”). The men likely wanted to show that they could be as studious and serious as Blackwell. She eventually earned the respect of her peers and the instructors. Blackwell graduated two years later in 1849, first in her class, and the first woman to become a doctor in her era. Unfortunately, Blackwell’s struggle continued and no hospitals in the United States would hire her. Blackwell returned to Europe where she worked as a nurse and midwife in Paris, France. She continued to watch the doctors and learn as much as she good about practicing medicine, thinking she wanted to become a surgeon. One day, while working on an infant, Blackwell accidentally squirted a strong medicine into her left eye. Blackwell became very ill with a disease and later became blind in the eye, which meant she would be unable to do surgery. However, this was not going to stop Blackwell from continuing to work in medicine and fighting for women in the workplace. Despite everything that happened to Blackwell, she became a very good doctor.
Blackwell saw the role of medical women as integral to the proper and healthy progress of the profession as a whole (Morantz, 465) In 1852, Blackwell decided to return to New York to open her own private practice. She opened a clinic named the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children. Five years later, with the help of her sister, Emily Blackwell, who was also a doctor, they opened a hospital together, the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. The hospital also had the first nursing school to be established in the United States. Many sick people were helped
here. Elizabeth Blackwell continued to dream big and wanted other women to have the same chance to also become doctors. Blackwell’s dream came true when she opened a medical college, the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary that included a comprehensive and competitive curriculum. It was her hard work that made it possible for other women to become doctors and study the field of medicine. Blackwell believed that health was the natural order of things, a gift to be enjoyed by people if they governed their lives wisely and well (Morantz 462). This concept was upheld in her college of medicine. Elizabeth Blackwell is the most important part of history to the women who are now medical doctors in America. If she had not tried and worked hard to become the first woman that was a medical doctor, then there may not have been women doctors in today’s society. Without women doctors, there would be great void in the providers that people would be able to see for treatment and a lack of knowledge that has been provided by women doctors. Despite all of the struggles and prejudices of the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell knew that the barriers to women’s access to medical education must be removed (Morantz, 475). She also believed that only thorough scientific training would promote women’s success (Morantz, 475). Blackwell became the first woman doctor and significantly increased the role of women in today’s society, not only in medicine but in the workforce as well. Blackwell was a great role model for future women and children, gaining the respect of both her peers and men. Without women like Blackwell, society would not be the same today.
a terminal disease, most likely uterine cancer (Morantz, 463). This friend was embarrassed to go to male doctors and told Blackwell that she should become a doctor. At first, Blackwell thought the idea was funny, but then realized that she was excited about this challenge and wanted to go to medical school to become the first woman doctor. This would become one of the most important events in history. Blackwell continued to work as a teacher to earn money for medical school and started studying anatomy. When she wasn’t working to earn money for school, she studied books about medicine so she would be ready. Blackwell applied to all of the best medical schools, but was frequently told that women could only be nurses, not doctors. One doctor even suggested that she pretend to be a man to get into medical school (Burby, 14). Of course, this made Blackwell very angry and even more determined.
The road to becoming a doctor was not going to be easy. Blackwell became discouraged until the Geneva Medical College in New York accepted her into their school, which she found out later was a joke. The students had voted her in, not thinking that she would actually attend. But Blackwell was extremely dedicated and showed up to pursue her studies, even in the middle of all of the prejudices surrounding women becoming medical doctors. “She was ostracized by educators and patients alike at times, though it was also reported that uncouth male students became particularly studious and mature in her presence” (“Elizabeth Blackwell”). The men likely wanted to show that they could be as studious and serious as Blackwell. She eventually earned the respect of her peers and the instructors. Blackwell graduated two years later in 1849, first in her class, and the first woman to become a doctor in her era. Unfortunately, Blackwell’s struggle continued and no hospitals in the United States would hire her. Blackwell returned to Europe where she worked as a nurse and midwife in Paris, France. She continued to watch the doctors and learn as much as she good about practicing medicine, thinking she wanted to become a surgeon. One day, while working on an infant, Blackwell accidentally squirted a strong medicine into her left eye. Blackwell became very ill with a disease and later became blind in the eye, which meant she would be unable to do surgery. However, this was not going to stop Blackwell from continuing to work in medicine and fighting for women in the workplace. Despite everything that happened to Blackwell, she became a very good doctor.
Blackwell saw the role of medical women as integral to the proper and healthy progress of the profession as a whole (Morantz, 465) In 1852, Blackwell decided to return to New York to open her own private practice. She opened a clinic named the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children. Five years later, with the help of her sister, Emily Blackwell, who was also a doctor, they opened a hospital together, the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. The hospital also had the first nursing school to be established in the United States. Many sick people were helped
here. Elizabeth Blackwell continued to dream big and wanted other women to have the same chance to also become doctors. Blackwell’s dream came true when she opened a medical college, the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary that included a comprehensive and competitive curriculum. It was her hard work that made it possible for other women to become doctors and study the field of medicine. Blackwell believed that health was the natural order of things, a gift to be enjoyed by people if they governed their lives wisely and well (Morantz 462). This concept was upheld in her college of medicine. Elizabeth Blackwell is the most important part of history to the women who are now medical doctors in America. If she had not tried and worked hard to become the first woman that was a medical doctor, then there may not have been women doctors in today’s society. Without women doctors, there would be great void in the providers that people would be able to see for treatment and a lack of knowledge that has been provided by women doctors. Despite all of the struggles and prejudices of the 19th century, Elizabeth Blackwell knew that the barriers to women’s access to medical education must be removed (Morantz, 475). She also believed that only thorough scientific training would promote women’s success (Morantz, 475). Blackwell became the first woman doctor and significantly increased the role of women in today’s society, not only in medicine but in the workforce as well. Blackwell was a great role model for future women and children, gaining the respect of both her peers and men. Without women like Blackwell, society would not be the same today.