Elizabeth Balackwellhttps://www.womeninmedicinemagazine.comThere has been a long-known stereotype in society that women belong in the household. Through time there have been rebel women that have fought to change this. Elizabeth Blackwell was one of these women who developed our society to prove that women have a place outside of their home. Elizabeth Blackwell grew up in England in 1821, raised by a very liberal family. At eleven years old her family moved to the United States; her father died shortly after, leaving Blackwell with most of the responsibilities in the household. As Elizabeth grew up, she realized women were needed in the profession of medicine. Throughout her life, Blackwell fought for an education in medicine and women’s rights. She was the first person to take those first steps into the changing of society. Despite her obstacles in her early life and losing her sight and ability to see, she never gave up. Blackwell’s determination lead to the changing of our world. With her courage and perseverance to change society, Elizabeth Blackwell became one of the most influential heroes in history as she achieved the rights for women as well as the education that they deserved.

Elizabeth Blackwell was known for dedicating herself to breaking gender barriers with her courage in order to gain her rights for an education and to help others, especially in the fields of medicine. Before Blackwell started her course in the medical profession, one of her friends who was dying from an uterine disorder told Blackwell that due to the aspect of modesty, her disease could have been cured easily if she had had a female physician. This incentivized Blackwell into being a doctor. As she researched into the topic of studying medicine she encountered many problems, “Blackwell had no idea how to become a physician, so she consulted with several physicians known by her family. They told her it was a fine idea, but impossible; it was too expensive, and such education was not available to women. Yet Blackwell reasoned that if the idea were a good one, there must be some way to do it, and she was attracted by the challenge” (“Changing the Face of Medicine”). As Blackwell researched into being a surgeon and where she could go to study, many people told her that a woman studying medicine was impossible and she could not accomplish it. Hearing this encouraged her even more to contradict society and to prove them wrong. Blackwell was a very determined woman who did not accept stereotypes or people telling her what she should become. She was a very brave and courageous woman for accepting the challenge and being the first woman to be a doctor in the United States. Blackwell had no doubts and was prepared for the fight in order change women's rights in education.  Her mental strength and determination to take action helped her make an immense change in the profession of medicine and our world. She was a hero to many people due to her courage, mental strength, values, and integrity. When Blackwell finally was accepted into a college, after all the hard work and rejection, she quickly realized that her companions took her as a joke: “Being admitted to medical school was one thing, being accepted by the male students and the all male faculty was another thing. She was snubbed, ridiculed, and the victim of pranks.When she stood her ground, and refused to be driven away, faculty and fellow students grudgingly accepted her. In 1849, at age 29, she became the first woman graduated from a medical school in the United States”(Bauman). Blackwell faced many challenges when she attended Geneva Medical College. She was teased and made fun of everyday until she stood her ground. Her classmates, who were mainly males during the 1850s, did not think she belonged. Blackwell was strong and confident throughout her entire life and especially when she faced these situations. She made it known that they couldn't bring her down by standing up for herself and showing bravery. This lead to the hatred to vanish. Blackwell had the courage to try new things despite what others thought and continued to do what she loved. Due to her courage, she did not bring herself down and attended the classes everyday regardless of other’s words and actions. Overall, Elizabeth Blackwell showed heroism through her courageous actions as she stood up for her values and what she thought was right. This helped her influence others regarding reinforcing the values as a professional in medicine and continue to change the perspective of education.

Elizabeth Blackwell's Medical Educationhttps://ocp.hul.harvard.eduAs a very influential woman, Blackwell inspired others by being persistent when things were not right. She used her perseverance to change the interpretation of medicine, which was what she was passionate about. While Blackwell researched for colleges that she could attend, she quickly realized that it would be much harder than expected, “Elizabeth applied to dozens of medical schools, and received dozens of rejections. She was turned down not because she was unqualified, but because she was a woman. She kept trying, though, and her persistence paid off when Geneva College (forerunner of Hobart College), in New York, accepted her into its medical school”(Bauman). Through her motivating course of becoming a doctor, she faced many difficulties that displayed the challenges a woman experienced during the 1840s. Blackwell was discriminated  by more than twenty schools because people did not think a woman belonged in the fields of studying medicine. After many tries, she was finally accepted into Genova College. Blackwell was a devoted woman with a lot of mental strength, she did not give up her dream. She used her persistence to not surrender and continue trying in order to go to a medical school. Her perseverance helped her become one of the greatest heroes in history. Additionally, Elizabeth Blackwell also showed perseverance when she saw that there were no other options when trying to learn more about becoming a surgeon:“Thwarted in her attempts to seek further training as a surgeon, both in the United States and after moving to Paris, Blackwell turned to gynecology and obstetrics, studying at La Maternité in Paris. Despite her M.D, she was forced to enroll as a student midwife”("Elizabeth Blackwell"). After trying to study to be a surgeon in Paris and the United States, Blackwell realized that she had used all her cards and no one else would help her to study what she wanted. Instead, she took the opportunity of learning gynecology and obstetrics, the part of medicine involving childbirth. She had to enroll as a midwife in order to get her education as others would not accept her as a student. Blackwell showed her perseverance as she always found other ways to do what she loved. Even if she could not do it through a certain path, she continued her learning differently. Blackwell never gave up despite her many downfalls and continued to fight for her rights, she was an example of pure perseverance. Throughout Blackwell’s college days, she was always challenged and made fun of but she did not know to what extent the discrimination would extend to: “One of her greatest hurdles was the class in reproductive anatomy. The professor, James Webster, felt that the topic would be too “unrefined” for a woman’s “delicate sensibilities” and asked her to step out of the lecture hall. An impassioned Blackwell disagreed and somehow convinced Webster to let her stay, much to the support of her fellow students”( Markel ). When she attended Geneva College, Blackwell encountered the problem where professors would ask her to leave the classrooms when sensitive content that was “not for a woman” was shown in the class. When Blackwell realized what was happening, she argued with the professor and through her argument, convinced him to let her stay. Blackwell was a really determined and persistent woman who did not let anything change who she was or change her actions. Blackwell disputed with the professor and persisted. She showed heroic traits through her perseverance and determination by advocating for her rights and by being able to go through something, emotionally or physically challenging.  Elizabeth Blackwell used her perseverance to inspire others and herself to continue and not be brought down, even though she went though many fails and rejections, what really counted was to keep going. Furthermore, Blackwell used perseverance to stand up for herself and her rights by speaking out about accomplishing whatever task designated.

Elizabeth Blackwell working as a nurse during the Civil Warhttps://study.comElizabeth Blackwell fought for her education in order to help others, she was inspired to change how our world perceived women and used her implication in liberal subjects to fight for what was fair. For the duration of her life, Blackwell pursued her medical career and always looked for other ways of doing things. Blackwell always continued her journey regardless of how hard it was, Elizabeth's strong mindset helped her change the world. From applying to a college, where no one wanted her, to starting her own hospital, she was always willing to move forward. In addition, Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to achieve a medical degree in a moment in history where women were not able to study a “man's profession”. She changed the morals in the United Kingdom and the United States, which then traveled through the world. Elizabeth Blackwell is an inspirational hero to society as she made a huge impact in the world of medicine, the rights of women, and stood up for what she believed in. Blackwell was an open-minded person who also helped revolutionize and help in the civil rights movement to help abolish slavery. Through Elizabeth Blackwell's lifetime she created many opportunities for women in the medical field and their education. She helped many women apply for colleges and pursue a career that years before, may have not accomplished. She is and was one of the greatest heroes in society because of her determination, courage, perseverance and devotion.  Elizabeth Blackwell’s first footsteps inspired many women to follow her path. She lived to see how the 19th century changed step by step due to her contribution in the medical profession.

Works Cited

Bauman, Richard. "Elizabeth Blackwell--America's First Woman Doctor." World and I, Dec. 2017. Academic OneFile, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A521048283/GPS?u=powa9245&sid=GPS&xid=ac92cf7a. Accessed 12 May 2018.

“Changing the Face of Medicine | Elizabeth Blackwell.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 3 June 2015, cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_35.html.

"Elizabeth Blackwell." Notable Women Scientists, Gale, 2000. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1668000036/GPS?u=powa9245&sid=GPS&xid=0661b56b. Accessed 13 May 2018.

Markel, Dr. Howard. “How Elizabeth Blackwell Became the First Female Doctor in the U.S.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 23 Jan. 2014, www.pbs.org/newshour/health/elizabeth-blackwell-becomes-the-first-woman-doctor-in-the-united-states.