Medicine has revolutionized the way life is lived around the world. During Elizabeth Blackwell's lifetime, women often died from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.1 Today, the percentage of women in first and second world countries who die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth childbirth has decreased significantly. If women had not entered the field of medicine, aspects of gynecology, pediatrics, birth control, abortion, and even mental health may not have received attention. attention they deserve and receive today. Elizabeth Blackwell broke the barrier between women by becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayElizabeth Blackwell was born and raised in England, although her contributions to medicine were made in America. She was born into a home where she was encouraged to do the same things as her brothers, learning to "read, write, and study the classics."1 This environment allowed her to flourish both as a as a child and later as a doctor. “It is a great advantage to be born into a large group of healthy, active children, surrounded by wholesome influences.” The Blackwells sailed to America in 1832, which would benefit Elizabeth in ways they could not have predicted. When Elizabeth was 17, her father died and she had to work to support her family. She taught “music, French, and academic subjects.”1 During this time, she was exposed to the brutality of slavery as well as the concept of transcendentalism. She did not like teaching, due to her students' lack of interest in their studies. Several years passed and Elizabeth met a dying friend. “She said to me one day: “You like studies, you have health and leisure; why not study medicine? If I could have been treated by a female doctor, I would have been spared my worst suffering. »6 Elizabeth initially rejected the idea completely. She was repelled by the human body and its diseases, and it was considered “unfeminine” at the time for women to pursue higher education, particularly in medicine. Although she loved her studies, physiology revolted her. However, as time went by, she could not give up the idea of ​​going into medicine. “I felt more determined than ever to become a doctor and thus erect a solid barrier between myself and any ordinary marriage. I must have something to absorb my thoughts, an object in life that will fill this void and prevent this sad wear and tear of the heart. »2 She feared any kind of lifelong commitment to men and would never marry. The fall of 1847 marked the beginning of Blackwell's training to become a female physician. Having been rejected by other medical schools, she applied to Geneva College in New York, where the faculty "reluctantly agreed to accept her if all 150 male students voted unanimously for her." »5 The men did it, supposedly as a joke. She began her studies in October 1847. She did her residency at Blockley Hospital; she graduated with honors and the president of Geneva College even recognized her during the graduation ceremony. “Departing from the usual form, he stood up and addressed her in such an emphatic and unusual manner that she was surprised to respond. “Thank you, sir,” she said. “With the help of the Most High, it will be the duty of my life to honor this diploma. »4 Even after graduating, she wascriticized for having turned to medicine. After graduating, Elizabeth Blackwell continued her studies in medicine. Europe, particularly France. It was “a dangerous time to live in France, as epidemics and revolts against Napoleon raged.”5 She was able to attend midwifery school, where she gained much first-hand experience. This experience inspired her: “Blackwell embarked on her life's goal to educate not only the public, but also doctors themselves, about the need for cleanliness and patient comfort. »5 Scientists had not yet discovered the effects of germs or how they spread, so hospitals were “terrible places back then” due to the lack of cleanliness in operating rooms. Another contributing factor was that "anesthesia had only been around for three years and was only slowly being accepted by doctors."5 Today's doctors can attest that anesthesia is one of the most most important to patient comfort. Elizabeth ran into an obstacle before she could begin. working to achieve her goals, one of which was to become a surgeon. She became ill after caring for a baby with serious eye infections and was unable to work for months due to temporary blindness. She even lost an eye and had to wear a glass eye for the rest of her life. Because of this disability, she decided to make education about disease prevention and the importance of disinfection her goal. His first lecture was on personal hygiene and physical education. She attracted a very small audience and her lectures were accepted mainly by Quakers. She must have started at the bottom of the totem pole when she began practicing medicine, constantly being called a "female doctor" (associated with home abortions). She later taught the importance of disinfection during the Civil War, which led to an exponential decrease in the death rate. As Elizabeth was establishing herself in her field, her sister Emily Blackwell was also earning a medical degree. She was the third American woman to do so. After the Civil War, the sisters established a medical school for women, which they named the Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary.5 There were other schools for women, but the sisters offered a more comprehensive program. rigorous and more targeted. : This is just a sample.Get a custom essay now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssayElizabeth Blackwell played a monumental role in medicine as a pioneer for women's rights to work in the medical field. Without her contributions, prodigious women like Marie Curie may not have been inspired or even allowed to work in their field. Beyond gender, Elizabeth Blackwell's focus on disinfection practices has led to safer practices by doctors and nurses. His ability to see the connection between lack of disinfection in operating rooms and postoperative complications and/or infections was arguably revolutionary at that time, when germ theory was not yet fully developed or understood. Elizabeth lived a non-traditional lifestyle for women at the time, never marrying and consequently never having children (except for the child she adopted). She “realized that at the time, combining this with a demanding career was impossible”5. Her self-sacrifice and dedication to medicine make her one of the most monumental women in history. Works Cited Riddle, D. (2019). Elizabeth Blackwell: the first wife.