When you think of Women in Science, who do you think about? Marie Curie, obviously. Jane Goodall. Hopefully the 3 ‘Computers’ – incredible mathematicians and programmers – portrayed in “Hidden Figured”.
There are naturally a lot more women in Science than the mentioned ones, and I wanted to find out more about them. I’ve done my research and here are two Incredible Women that I would like to introduce to you. Though I am hoping that maybe you’ve heard of them already 🙂
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
Elizabeth lived across the 19th and 20th century. She is the first woman who became a qualified and registered English Female Doctor.
Her story is a pure inspiration of “do not ever give up”. Elizabeth decided to become a doctor after meeting another Elizabeth – Elizabeth Blackwell. Ms Blackwell gained her qualifications from University of Geneva, and they both met in the United States. Both Elizabeths faced countless rejections and obstacles because it was unconceivable to have female doctors in the 19th century Britain.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, as a woman, was not allowed to study at any medical school. That didn’t stop her. She went to the nursing school, and studied among male students. However, the male students raised objections and complaints about her admittance, and she had to leave.
She managed to qualify as a doctor through the Society of Apothecaries, but they immediately banned female entrants once she graduated. Undeterred, Elizabeth learned French to study at University of Sorbonne. It’s only there that she got the medical degree that she was after.
However, despite having the required degree, The British Medical Registry didn’t allow for her registration. This meant she could not practice medicine. Elizabeth received her BMA – British Medical Association membership – later, but that was still not sufficient for her to actually be a doctor.
What makes Elizabeth an Incredible Woman?
So what did Elizabeth do? With her father’s help, she opened her own practice in London. And after a short while, she founded St Mary’s Dispensary for Women and Children.
Another of her incredible achievements is founding of the New Hospital for Women and Children. Only women worked there, and the institution treated gynaecological conditions. Elizabeth Blackwell was the Professor of Gynaecology there! This hospital is what you (may) know now as Royal Free Hospital of Medicine.
She also co-founded and lectured at London School of Medicine for Women. This school, the only of this type in Britain at the time, provided medical courses for women only.
Apart from all of these magnificent if not jaw-dropping achievements listed above, there are other few things that blew me away.
Firstly, the fact that Elizabeth took as many private classes of the necessary subjects as needed. She learned anatomy, physiology, and French at home to obtain her degree. This becomes even more amazing once you know that she didn’t go to school until she was in her teens! She was so determined to become a doctor that – as you can see – nothing could stop her.
Secondly, she had to overcome the suspicious public who didn’t quite trust female doctors back then. Patients were not too keen to be treated by women! Ironically, a threat of a Cholera outbreak in London helped her – scared patients wanted to be cured, and they ended up at her Practice.
If you’d like to find out even more about this phenomenal woman, you can read about her here.
Mary Anning
You could say that without Mary Anning there would be no Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Nor the “She sells the seashells” tongue twister!
Mary Anning was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. She spent her whole life there. From a very early age, she would help her father collect fossils. Her parents were quite poor, and selling fossils helped a little with their funds. Mary, just like many other girls at the time, had very little education, but she could read. She taught herself geology and anatomy, though.
Mary’s father died quite unexpectedly when she was young. To make ends meet, Mary had to sell her fossil finds.
Why is Mary an Incredible Woman?
In a nutshell, she is the crowned queen of fossils. Mary’s discoveries were revolutionary, and are considered some of the most important in the world till today.
When she was only 13, she found a skull of what was thought to be a crocodile. However, when the whole skeleton was examined by George Cuvier (father of palaeontology), it became clear that the discovery was a lot more exciting. Mary found the first ichthyosaur – a marine reptile which lived ca. 200 million years ago. (and yes, I had to google the name myself).
Mary went on to make more discoveries that shook the world of palaeontology. However, despite the fact that people knew she was the person to have found the bones etc., the scientists would never mention her name in their scientific papers. Even the Geological Society of London refused to admit her as a member (to put things in perspective, over 100 years passed until the first woman was admitted).
Her discoveries triggered something else: a new art form called Paleoart. Henry De la Beche, who was Mary’s childhood friend, created the first art piece that presented a prehistoric Dorset complete with the animals that Mary found.
This story doesn’t end too well. Mary died at the age of 47 of breast cancer. Despite her fantastic contributions and discoveries, she never received the recognition she deserved while she was alive. Her financial situation was much better than before her first major found.
Nevertheless, I am impressed with her dedication and determination to carry on her father’s work and doing what she loved. Not to mention that without her findings, Jurassic Coast wouldn’t have become as famous and important as it is now. You can read more about Mary on National History Museum’s website.
If you’d like to read about other Incredible Women, have a look at Miko and Michaela – 2 ballet dancers with 2 completely different stories. Do you know any Incredible Women that you’d like to read about here?
And if you feel like visiting the Jurassic Coast, how about popping down to Chesil Beach, near Weymouth?