Elizabeth Blackwell: Medical Maverick and Vanguard of Feminist Progress

Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneering figure in the field of medicine, a visionary who defied societal norms and shattered gender barriers in the 19th century. Born on February 3, 1821, in Bristol, England, Blackwell’s journey toward becoming the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States was marked by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to her convictions.

Interestingly, she was never on the path of becoming a doctor. In fact, in her autobiography, she wrote that she was disgusted by the ailments of the human body. It was only after the last words of her dear friend that led her in this direction. When her friend became ill she told Elizabeth that a female doctor would have made her much more comfortable but in 1845 there were no women doctors it was then that Elizabeth decided she wanted to go to medical school. She became the first woman to pursue a career in medicine which led to societal reform in both the United States and Britain.

Elizabeth was third of the nine children born to Samuel and Hannah Blackwell. Her father ran many sugar refineries. He was a very liberal man. He strongly believed in education for all his children. So, tutors were visiting the household to teach all the kids. Her parents were active in the abolitionist movement. Their family’s commitment to the anti-slavery movement impacted Elizabeth’s sense of providing care to anyone who needed help regardless of their race.

In 1832 after one of the refineries were burned down, Elizabeth’s family migrated to the United States. She was only 11 years old. Firstly, she went to New York and later shifted to Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father died in 1838 leaving the family without any money. Elizabeth along with her sisters opened a private school. She took up teaching to bring in the much-needed money. It was during this time that the heartbreaking incident of her friend’s illness happened. Elizabeth was now determined to take up medicine. But the only problem was that men fully dominated the medical profession and there were no female doctors in the United States.

She started applying to medical colleges across the country. After being rejected 29 times, she was admitted by Geneva Medical School in New York. This admission was also a fluke. The Principal of the College did not agree to this, so he sent the request to the student body for their approval. The motion was passed unanimously only because most of them thought it was a joke. Nonetheless, Elizabeth was admitted but she was not allowed to attend the practical classes by the teachers. Working with quiet determination, she turned aside the hostility of the professors, students, and townspeople.

Determined to achieve her objective, Blackwell put her heart and soul into studying and as a result on Jan 23, 1849, she came out as the topper of her class. She thus became the first certified medical female doctor.

Things were hard even now. Nobody wanted to be treated by a female doctor. Denied medical companionship, she decided to go to Europe to learn obstetrics surgery. Elizabeth went to France to study how to be a midwife. In 1849 while performing a procedure, some contaminated fluid entered her eye, and she lost vision in one eye.

All her hopes of becoming a surgeon were shattered but she did not lose hope. She came back to the United States. Barred from city hospitals, she founded her infirmary. In 1857, she along with her sister who was also a doctor opened an infirmary for women and children, which later became a training center. She established very high standards in her college. She had external examiners and gained an excellent reputation.

By the time the Civil War began in the United States in 1861, Elizabeth’s Center had also become a  nurse’s training center. She aided in training nurses to help with the war efforts. She provided free healthcare to all those who couldn’t afford it. During this period, she became friends with Florence Nightingale. She was very grateful to Florence Nightingale for raising awareness regarding the importance of sanitation. She always incorporated sanitation and hygiene very high on her list of prevention of disease.

Having decided to avoid marriage, Blackwell nevertheless sought a family and in 1854 adopted an orphan, Katherine Bally. They remained companions into Elizabeth’s old age.

Despite Blackwell’s success, negative attitudes towards female students remained. In the years to come Dr. Blackwell would tackle gender inequality for female medical students head-on and provide them with the opportunity to train and practice.

After some disagreement with her sister, Elizabeth moved to England in 1869. Elizabeth recognized that she had to do more work to make sure that pathway existed for women. That is why she opened a medical college for women. She started the London School of Medicine in 1874 hoping to promote women in medical education. She went around the country giving lectures and encouraging young British women to do what she had done.

By 1871 in England, she had a private practice. She had the chair of gynaecology in the Women’s Hospital and then she gathered a gang of like-minded people around her and they founded the National Health Society. The motto was ‘prevention is better than cure’. She set up a series of lectures called the penny lectures so that anyone could afford to go. She gave many lectures on first aid, sanitation, and the importance of diet and hygiene. By this time, women were allowed in medical colleges in Britain.

In 1877 she retired from the School of Medicine and concentrated her efforts towards women’s rights of sanitation and preventive medicine. Her health started deteriorating and eventually, she gave up private practice. She now channeled her energy into other spheres close to her heart like sex education for girls, prison reforms, and cooperative movement. She wrote for many publications.

In 1907, while on a vacation in Scotland, she fell from the stairs. This left her severely disabled and she eventually died in 1910 at the age of 89. She opened the doors for women in medicine. 

Every year her contributions are celebrated with the Elizabeth Blackwell medal, awarded annually to a woman who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of women in medicine. In 1973, she was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame. She believed that every child had the right to be well-born, well-educated, and well-nourished. She was the first woman to be placed on the British Medical Register and taught at England’s first college of medicine for women. She pioneered preventive medicine and the promotion of antisepsis and hygiene.

It is all because of her that today women make up almost half of the medical students in the United States and a third of physicians. Blackwell was undaunted by the negative attitudes towards her and maintained focus on her goal: becoming a doctor.

Her legacy extends far beyond her groundbreaking medical career, leaving an indelible mark on the history of women’s rights and healthcare in the United States. Elizabeth Blackwell’s story shows how determination can lead to success, and it proves that individuals who go against societal norms to follow their dreams can make a lasting impact.

–Nidhi Raj is an independent writing professional, storyteller, and mother with a keen interest in women’s issues and International Relations.