Essay On Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree on American soil, as well as in the UK. Although Britain-born, she was an amazing pioneer for women in the medical profession and opened the path for women all over America. Elizabeth Blackwell is the quintessential American.

Elizabeth was always very determined. Even starting at a young age, she said, “It will be something hard!” (Pg. 4) when she was asked what she was going to be when she grows up. She, and her father, were constantly criticized by others, including family, because Mr. Blackwell taught his daughters the same her taught his sons, which was not very common and extremely frowned upon (Pg. 7). Elizabeth was faced with the hardships of money, means of travel, and doing

Her father, whom she greatly looked up to, died when she was 17 years old (Pg. 28). She became more independent and secluded after his death in 1838. When she was working as a teacher in Kentucky, she had to share a room with three other women, as there were no special room for teachers (Pg. 33). During this time, she kept to herself and often went on walks alone in the woods (Pg. 33). While in college and on internships, she generally stayed in her room, when not in class or working, to be alone to study, and she did not interact very often with other residents or students, so she was not distracted. In one instance, a doctor she looked up to, Dr. Corydon Le Ford, said to her, “I wonder if politics is a matter for women?” when Elizabeth stood on the “Free Soil” side in a vote, every man on that side rioted for Elizabeth, while she just smiled and left, not bothering to fight (Pg. 118-119). Once, amongst talking to herself, Elizabeth said, “I can not go on living alone!” and her sister heard so asked her if she had meant marriage. Elizabeth insisted no because one career is enough to begin with (Pg. 179). Elizabeth stayed a strong and independent woman throughout her