Elizabeth Blackwell Essay Sample

On February 3rd, 1821 in Bristol, England, Elizabeth Blackwell was born to her father, Samuel Blackwell, a sugar refiner, and her mother, Hannah Lane Blackwell, a Dissenter. According to the History Research center, “The term Dissenter refers to members of a variety of Protestant denominations that refused to take the Anglican (or Church of England) communion or to conform to the tenets of the Church of England” (Kuhlman). Sadly in 1832, The Blackwell’s sugar refinery burned down which caused the family to finally move to the United States. Despite the family’s low income, this didn't stop the Blackwell children from going to good schools in New York. There they were educated on topics of social reform, more specifically the abolitionist movement which is an organized effort to end the practice of slavery in the United States. Determined to succeed, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the United States to earn her medical degree despite the judgment she faced.

Blackwell knew she didn't want to end up with a stereotypical job so when she was presented with an idea she went after it. Sorrowfully, in 1845 Elizabeth visited a friend who was dying from a uterine disorder. Elizabeth’s friend then explained to her that the reason she hadn't sought medical assistance until her condition worsened was due to feeling ashamed of mentioning it to a male doctor. But if a female doctor had been available she would’ve sought medical attention sooner. That is when she brought to Blackwell’s attention that she should study medicine. At first, this idea repelled Elizabeth but after the death of her friend, she began considering it. She then began contacting a few doctors to seek their opinions on her becoming a doctor which they all agreed there is a need for female doctors but it’s impossible. This pushed Elizabeth to achieve her goal even more. As Elizabeth continued teaching she also studied medicine on her own time. Unfortunately, she was rejected from every medical school she applied for. People tried discouraging her by saying that the best thing she could do was disguise herself as a man and go to Paris to study medicine. But she rose above all these adversities and went another route. She decided to apply to other medical schools in the United States instead of focusing on the famous ones. In her application, she explained the various reasons why these famous medical schools she previously applied to agreed with the idea of her studying medicine but according to the article “First Among Women '' states “the size and nature of their particular classes prevented them from taking her” (Grace). This approach ended up working when she was admitted as a medical student to the Geneva Medical College in New York in October 1847 by the vote of their students. After this event the whole medical class At Genova Medical College adopted the idea that “to every branch of scientific education the door should be open equally to all; that the application of Elizabeth Blackwell to become a member of our class meets our entire approbation; and in extending our unanimous invitation we pledge ourselves that no conduct of ours shall cause her to regret her attendance at this institution” (Harrison).

When she first began her studies in November of 1847, she had encountered bitterness and hostility but as time went on she gained acceptance and recognition. Two years later, she graduated top of her class and officially became the first woman to graduate from medical school and the first woman doctor of medicine in the modern era. According to the article “First Woman Doctor”, “Her graduation is one of the proudest moments in the history of Geneva Medical College” (Compiled by NSTP Research & Information Services). After graduation, she went to England where she ended up studying in hospitals Birmingham and London. Eventually moving to Paris, France where she took part in the midwives course at La Maternite. While attending that course she suffered a horrendous eye infection which caused her to become blind in one eye, forcing her to surrender her dream to become a surgeon. Finally, Blackwell returned to New York in 1851, even though she was fully qualified, hospitals and dispensaries refused her from working. She was even declined lodging and office space by landlords when she tried opening a private practice. At last, in 1853 she opened a dispensary in a tenement district of New York City, where she focused on treating Women and Children.

Despite all these obstacles Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell faced, she still managed to achieve her goals of becoming the first female doctor in the United States which revealed to other women that they too can achieve this. Two other women doctors, Dr. Emily Blackwell, her sister,  and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, joined Elizabeth in her dispensary. But this achievement did not put an end to Dr. Blackwell expanding, she still hoped to create a medical school and nursing school that encouraged women to enter the medical profession. But the Civil War got in the way, which Elizabeth organized a unit of nurses for the field services. Afterward, in 1868, Blackwell opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which was open until 1899. In her later years, Blackwell decided to move back to London in 1869 where she set up her private practice. She picked up teaching again from 1875 to 1907, where she was a professor of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women. Tragically, she died on May 31, 1910, at her home in Hastings, England.

Elizabeth Blackwell faced so much judgment and backlash for following her dreams but she never let that bother her. She continued to look forward and did not stop to reconsider. With this determination, she managed to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and opened opportunities for others to achieve their dreams. She is considered a true inspiration to not only women, or medical professionals, but people all around because she is the perfect example of someone who knows what they want and will do anything at all cause to get there. If it weren't for the bravery and drive Elizabeth Blackwell has then who knows if women would realize just how capable they are to be in the same field as men.