How Did Elizabeth Blackwell Changed American Women In The 1800's

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In the 1800’s, men were the only ones that became doctors. That is until 1849 when Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from medical school (Lewis, Jone Johnson). Being the first woman to receive a medical diploma, Elizabeth Blackwell opened up the door for women everywhere to become doctors (“Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)”). Women in the 1800’s were usually midwives, but Elizabeth Blackwell changed that for women everywhere. Elizabeth Blackwell was born February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England ("Elizabeth Blackwell"). Hannah Lane and Samuel Blackwell were her parents. Elizabeth was the third child out of nine brothers and sisters. Her father, Samuel Blackwell, was a sugar refiner but was more well-known throughout England as a social activist. One …show more content…

After living nine years in Bristol, England, the town became an unsafe to raise a family. Riots happen, cholera affected the water, and factors were burned down (Khalsa, Sita). Samuel Blackwell moved his whole family, including his four unmarried sisters who lived with them, to America in 1832 when his sugar refiner business failed (“Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)”). They started out in New York City, then moved to New Jersey, and finally ended up living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Samuel died in Cincinnati, Ohio, which left the family without a monetary supply. Elizabeth, her mother, Hannah Lane, and her two grownup sisters, Anna and Marian, open up a private school in Cincinnati. The private school became the main source of income for the Blackwell household, and it is also where Emily Blackwell became a teacher in her early career (Lewis, Jone Johnson). Two of Elizabeth’s brothers married important female activist. Henry Blackwell, who followed in his father’s footsteps in abolition, …show more content…

Dr. Blackwell went to study medical meccas in Paris and London in April of the same year. Elizabeth started her post- graduate studies in La Maternite, which is a Parisian maternity hospital. After a few months in this infirmary, Elizabeth was effected with a bacterial infection in the left eye, which was likely gonorrhea from the mother during the birth process. This caused blindness in the eye which prohibited her from becoming a surgeon (Markel, Howard). While Elizabeth was recovering in the hospital, her friend Florence Nightingale was talking about opening up a hospital together with Elizabeth. However, their plan failed when the two friends had a disagreement of whether or not to let women train as doctors instead of nurses (Nussbaum,