Today’s Heroes post is by Cathy Brown. In her own words Cathy is a potterer & tinkerer. Weaver, potential ukulele player, cook and comic book geek. She’s clearly a great writer too, I hope you agree. Take it away Cathy:
Elizabeth Blackwell and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.
These two women, born in 1821 and 1836 respectively, were instrumental in both the emancipation of women, and the admitting of women to the medical profession. Both British born, they are the first and second women to be entered onto the UK Medical Register, the first to join the BMA in the case of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and the first to graduate as an MD in America in the case of Elizabeth Blackwell. Between them they opened schools of medicine, worked with Florence Nightingale, trained future generations of doctors and tirelessly supported women’s rights all their lives.
They both felt a moral imperative, not only to fulfil their own ambitions and desires (both, I might add, were working mothers in an age where that term was probably considered heretical), but to give back to society, to improve and help society as a whole to develop. Elizabeth Blackwell went as far as to say “If society will not admit of woman’s free development, then society must be remodelled” and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became England’s first female mayor in 1908. Neither lived to see full voting rights for women in the UK or the US.
The strength of mind, of character, they must have had in order to defy convention over most of their lives continues to amaze and inspire. These are Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’s words on work:
“When I felt rather overcome with [my father’s] opposition, I said as firmly as I could, that I must have this or something else, that I could not live without some real work.”
I have no real concept or understanding of living in a society where I could not be independent, use my brain, own my own property or live my life in whatever way I chose.
When I am facing something new, uncertain, untried and I can feel fear of the unknown kicking in – there are some words from Elizabeth Blackwell that I bring to mind, to remind me that I’m starting from so much further ahead than she was. I can vote without question, I can study and be recognised in any subject, any profession that I choose, my battles are different and yet I can be inspired by her courage and her delight still.
“It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.”
Powerful stuff eh! Thanks Cathy, and if you’re reading this and you would like to share your Heroes with us, please get in touch.