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Page 8/What She Wants/December, 1980

Clio's Musings

By Paula A. Copestick

"Why don't you study medicine? You like study and you have the intelligence. If I had been treated by a lady doctor, my worst sufferings would have been spared me." These words of Mary Donaldson, a friend who was dying of cancer, inspired Elizabeth Blackwell to become the first woman doctor, dedicated to helping women.

At first, all Blackwell's applications to medical schools were turned down. But "the idea of winning a doctor's degree gradually assumed the aspect of a great moral struggle and the moral fight possessed an immense attraction for me."

After a few years of teaching and study, Blackwell again applied to medical schools. This time the allmale student body of Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York voted "with uproarious laughter and' exaggerated chivalry" to accept her, never expecting her to attend. Attend she did.

The hostility of the town of Geneva was worse than the students' attitudes. Residents of the town, shocked at "the doctress," called her "doctor in petticoats". Women drew their skirts aside lest she contaminate them. One person, Dr. James Webster, supported her, but even he requested that she not attend a lecture on reproduction as he would find it too embarrassing. Even though Elizabeth admitted that some of the dissection "shocked her delicacy," she claimed the right to a full education and won entrance to the lecture.

At a term break, Elizabeth joined the staff of Blockly Almshouse, filled with 2000 inmates, "the scum of the earth". Even these paupers thought themselves above being treated by a woman doctor, but gradually they, and some of the staff, accepted her. This experience stimulated Elizabeth's lifelong interest in proper sanitation and nutrition.

After Geneva, Elizabeth studied ailments of women and children at La Maternite de Paris. There she contracted an infection which caused her to lose her sight in one eye-and any hopes she might have had to become a surgeon. She decided to concentrate on a medical career.

In 1851, at the age of thirty, Elizabeth returned to New York, where again she encountered violent prejudice. Real estate agents refused to deal with her. The city's dispensaries refused to let her work as an assistant physician in the women's and children's departments. Eventually she rented a floor of a

building overlooking Washington Square, although the landlady refused to let her hang a sign,

Patients were slow to come, so Elizabeth prepared a series of lectures for women on understanding their body functions, on keeping healthy, and on caring for infants. Quaker women who attended her lectures became her first patients. Slowly the practice grew, but as she admitted, "I stand alone. I have no medical companionship."

In March 1853, Blackwell opened the New York Dispensary for Indigent Women and Children, and later the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which added a Women's Medical College. Her sister Emily Blackwell, who received her MD from Western Reserve University, joined her practicing medicine and surgery. Elizabeth staffed her Infirmary only with women, for she believed they deserved a chance for a full range of medical practice they could not obtain elsewhere in the world.

References:

Chambers, Peggy. A Doctor Alone: A Biography of Elizabeth Blackwell: The First Woman Doctor 1821-1910. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1958.

Sherr, Lynn and Kazickas, Jurate. The American Woman's Gazetteer. New York: Bantam Books, 1976.

Sochen, June. HerStory: Vol. 1: 1600 to 1880. New York: Alfred Publishing Co., 1974. Truman, Margaret. Women of Courage. New York: William Morrow & Co., Inc., 1976.

Clio floated through the Archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society and found the March 20 to September 20, 1854 diary of Lucinda White Brown, wife of a minister. An excerpt from the diary dated April 23, 1854 tells of Mrs. Brown's going to hear Mrs. Abbey K. Foster lecture on slavery. "She is an Eastern woman and much noted. She seems as much at home in public as any gentleman I ever heard--but I saw nothing out of the way or not ladylike. She spoke as one understanding her subject, and pleaded the cause of universal freedom in a masterly manner, corroborating the statements made with regard to the sufferings of the slave by undeniable authority. The large audience listened with intense interest. She spares not priest or politician and takes pains to portray the hollow hearted stupid selfishness of all in public life, not in favor of the free right of all 'to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'.'

Clio hopes you enjoyed the eyewitness report of one of those early women who dared speak in public about unpopular causes.

Women's Open House to Continue

By Lisa Rainsong

The first women's open house, held Saturday, November 22, was a resounding success. At least 30 women came to enjoy the coffeehouse atmosphere, fresh homemade snacks and good music.

A warm reception was given to musicians Deb Adier and Miki Petrillo. Many of the women there have enjoyed hearing Deb before and joined her in singing several of the songs she shared with us. For Miki this was her east side debut, and it was a fine one for all concerned. Accompanying herself on acoustic and electric guitars, she treated us to her unique style of songwriting and solid musicianship. The response to the idea of a women's open house was so enthusiastic that these events will continue on the 4th Saturday of each month. By the end of the evening it was obvious that the original space had already been outgrown, and a number of women have volunteered to host open houses in their homes in the future. In the meantime, other women are working on establishing a permanent women's coffeehouse.

The next women's open house will be December 27

from 8 p.m. to midnight at 1651 Glenmont Road. Music will be provided by singer and guitarist Karen Ireland and other musicians will be announced. A $1 donation will be asked for the music, and coffee, tea and home-baked snacks will be available, including Mudslide's world-renowned frozen yogurt pie.

At future open houses we plan to have feminist films and poetry as well as a variety of music. Already confirmed for February 28 is an evening with harpist Christine Miller. We welcome all ideas for future entertainment and are looking for women with talents to share. For more information, please call 371-0483.

BRAVO: Linda Batway, Director of WomenSpace, was chosen one of the 81 outstanding people. for 1981 Cleveland Magazine. Her picture will appear in the magazine, but she refused to attend the dinner held for the 81 because it was held at Stouffer's. [As a subsidiary of Nestle's, Stouffer's is one of the targets of a national boycott.] She made sure that Cleveland Magazine was aware of her reasons for not attending.