Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneer for women everywhere and took giant steps in medical and social reform and sanitation. She gave many women after her the opportunity to follow in her footsteps and make a difference in the world.
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol, England in 1821. She was born to Hannah Lane and Samuel Blackwell. Elizabeth lived with her parents, her father’s four unmarried sisters and eight other siblings. She grew up in a religious and liberal home that pushed education. Her parents campaigned for women’s rights and supported the anti-slavery movement, which led to her father’s friendship with William Lloyd Garrison and Theodore Weld. In 1832, Elizabeth, at the age of 11, moved to New York City with her family to avoid the bloodshed involved with voting riots in Bristol. Samuel, her father, was a sugar refiner, and when his refinery in New York burned down, he again moved the family. This time they went Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon after settling in Ohio, Samuel died and left the family without an income during the Financial Crisis of 1837. To earn money, Elizabeth, her mother and her two of her older sisters began working as teachers.
At this point, Elizabeth was disgusted with the medical field and even admitted in her book that she would …show more content…
Even though being accepted was a giant step for women, it didn’t happen because the college fought for equality. The entire staff at Geneva, including Dean Lee, put her acceptance up to a vote for the 150 male students. If only one person voted “No”, Elizabeth would be denied admission once again. However, none of the students actually believed that a woman would apply to a medical college, and deeming it a practical joke, they unanimously voted yes. Most students were surprised and angry when she showed up for classes, but Elizabeth, and all subsequent women have them to
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol, England in 1821. She was born to Hannah Lane and Samuel Blackwell. Elizabeth lived with her parents, her father’s four unmarried sisters and eight other siblings. She grew up in a religious and liberal home that pushed education. Her parents campaigned for women’s rights and supported the anti-slavery movement, which led to her father’s friendship with William Lloyd Garrison and Theodore Weld. In 1832, Elizabeth, at the age of 11, moved to New York City with her family to avoid the bloodshed involved with voting riots in Bristol. Samuel, her father, was a sugar refiner, and when his refinery in New York burned down, he again moved the family. This time they went Cincinnati, Ohio. Soon after settling in Ohio, Samuel died and left the family without an income during the Financial Crisis of 1837. To earn money, Elizabeth, her mother and her two of her older sisters began working as teachers.
At this point, Elizabeth was disgusted with the medical field and even admitted in her book that she would …show more content…
Even though being accepted was a giant step for women, it didn’t happen because the college fought for equality. The entire staff at Geneva, including Dean Lee, put her acceptance up to a vote for the 150 male students. If only one person voted “No”, Elizabeth would be denied admission once again. However, none of the students actually believed that a woman would apply to a medical college, and deeming it a practical joke, they unanimously voted yes. Most students were surprised and angry when she showed up for classes, but Elizabeth, and all subsequent women have them to