03/08/2026
In honor of International Women’s Day, we would like to highlight an inspiring international woman in history: Elizabeth Blackwell. Elizabeth was born in England, but her family moved to the United States after suffering a fire there. Her parents did not believe in corporal punishment and also believed that all of their children, including the girls, deserved education, two ideas that were not exactly popular in the 1800’s. After her father’s death left the family in a difficult financial situation, Elizabeth and two of her sisters started a school that charged tuition for education and housing for young women. Later, however, Elizabeth committed to studying medicine and began applying to medical schools. She was met with much resistance and ridicule along the way, with many suggesting she try applying in Paris instead, or disguise herself as a man. Despite this, in 1849 Elizabeth became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States (her sister Emily became the second!). After which, she and her sister opened the New York Infirmary for Women. Throughout her life, Elizabeth trained, wrote, and lectured on the importance of educating women and the importance of women in the medical field, both in United States and Britain, and was known for her strong, and assertive personality. Elizabeth Blackwell’s legacy remains today, as she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1974, was featured on a postage stamp, and also has an annual American Medical Women’s Association award named after her. We’ll leave you with a powerful quote from the very EMPOWERED Elizabeth Blackwell: “I have overcome stronger distastes than any that now remain, and feel fully equal to the contest. As to the opinion of people, I don't care one straw personally.”
