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
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
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