WOMEN’S ROLE IN MEDICINE
WOMEN’S ROLE IN MEDICINE

Summary/Abstract: The acceptance of women in the practice of medicine has been viewed differently throughout human history. In ancient Egypt women were allowed to care for the sick and be involved in the delivering babies. At the same time, Egypt accepted women in medical studies and even as surgeons. Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire recognized the right of women to practice this profession, but the Middle Ages brought a paradigm shift. Women had only a secondary, domestic role of maintaining the health of the family. As the Church took over and influenced political power, women became increasingly marginalized. An exception was made by the University of Salerno, which also accepted women. Europe, however, was dominated by men in this profession and women were even denied access to literacy. Renaissance came with a breath of change and many women hoped that their social status would change. In the 17th century, countries such as England, Germany, Holland began to discover in women a special intellectual force and they began to make their increasingly important contribution in science and medicine. The 18th century allowed more and more women to enter the scientific world. Increasingly vocal and powerful, women made their way into medical practice beginning in the 19th century, coming to be recognized as equals to their male counterparts. Our article aims to review some of those women without whom the landscape of modern medicine would not be the same.

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