The First Woman Doctor

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Recommended: Gender equality in all aspects of society

In 1844 that Blackwell convinced herself that she was going to become a medical doctor. With her determination stubbornness and persistence, it was the perfect goal for her. she openly discussed this idea with her friends. Some of them encourage her but warned her that the path she had chosen to take was one filled with struggles and hardship. They advised her that if she chose to study medicine, her best choice was to move to France, disguise herself as a man, and only then would she be accepted into medical school; while others strongly opposed her idea and plainly told her that it would be impossible. They tried to gently dissuade her from such bold dreams. Elizabeth however would not be dissuaded; Even as a young child she had had a reputation of being stubborn and determined. She began her studies by reading medical books. Later on, in 1845 Elizabeth moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she taught school and, along with the help of physician John Dickson, she studied medicine in her spare time. Her next move, in 1846, was to a girls' school in Charleston, South Carolina, where she had more time to devote to her medical studies, this time under the guidance of Dickson's brother, Samuel. It was still a very difficult goal to pursuit because of a lot of people who were not as opened minded as her father was , and had trained her to be. They discouraged her profoundly. Very determined as Is her true nature, she didn’t resign or giver up her goals. Some of her friends then told her to try some of the schools in Philadelphia. Upon reaching Philadelphia, Elizabeth boarded with Dr. William Elder, and studied anatomy privately with Dr. Jonathan M. Allen as she attempted to get her foot in the door at any medical school in ...

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...acles, and difficulties. They stated that no one would rent a house for such a purpose; the female doctors would be looked upon with so much suspicion that even police would not be able to help them. And if a death occurred how would they issue a death certificate, would it be any help because surely it wouldn’t be respected by the proper authorizes. And finally if it came to the point where violence broke out they would be risking their lives as well as their reputations. Her friends again tried to dissuade her but just like in the very , beginning she would not be dissuaded . Her Persistent, stubbornness and determined nature was all it took to make sure there was a hospital.

Works Cited

The First woman Doctor By Rachel Baker
 http://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=e_blackwell
 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_35.html

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