As I drudge through problems about boxes falling down planes 30° inclined from the horizontal, wipe organic chemicals on my jeans, and steal string cheese from Rochester General Hospital; I look fondly to Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the O.G. female American physician. From one pre-medical student to the next, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Blackwell.
Miss Blackwell first applied to medical schools in 1847 and was rejected by nearly all of them for not having a penis (I didn't realize those are what held the scalpel? What listened to the heart and lungs? Then again the 1800's were a different time...). Though she applied to Geneva Medical School (in Geneva, NY!) by the name of E. Blackwell, the board of admissions saw right through the androgyny. Rolling about the floor laughing, or however misogynists express entertainment when they're in a group together, the board decided to open the decision of her admission to the entire school. I imagine walking through the halls must have been difficult that day when the entire school body was on the floor, dirtying their blouses, laughing as they unanimously accepted her.
To the surprise of the entire planet, Miss Blackwell attended the college. Much like a circus freak, common people would show up to lecture with the purpose of staring at her. At first, she wasn't allowed to see some medical demonstrations that were too inappropriate for a lady. Even medical journals wrote about Miss Blackwell and, specifically, the bonnet she removed from her head before commencing note taking in class. And you thought school was hard for you? With what I imagine was a huge grin on her face and sigh of relief, Dr. Blackwell graduated first in her class from Geneva Medical School in 1849. Geneva Medical School did not admit another woman for many years.
Discouraged from practicing with an association, Dr. Blackwell opened dispensaries that treated women and children. She additionally opened a Women's Medical School out of an infirmary likely so that no other woman would ever have to share her medical education experience. Understandably upset with the entire male race, she did not marry and instead adopted a daughter.
I am very lucky, and so are you if you are a pre-med female, to go to college at a time where women make up nearly 50% of the graduating classes in medical school. It has not always been this way. And while we can thank Dr. Blackwell for being a boss ass bitch, pushing her way into the field against the wishes of EVERYONE, we cannot pretend that equality has been achieved. Disparities still exist within specialties (shout out to the fictitious Dr. Callie Torres being practically one of the only female orthopedic surgeons ever) as well as in general practice. But please don't let the patriarchy and it's tentacles scare you; we have too much work to do.
