Cecilia Grierson
Cecilia Grierson was an Argentinian physician, women's rights activist, writer and reformer. She was also most notably the first Argentinian woman to receive a degree in medicine.
During the late 1870's, Argentina saw many reforms that allowed women greater access to education. Despite this, it was completely illegal for a woman to become a doctor, as a social stigma dictated it was inappropriate for them to touch a man's body even to save a life.
Her Story
Grierson’s medical journey was difficult from the start, being unable to attend medical school due to her gender. Grierson however, was an excellent student, having participated in many activities ever since she was young. Notably, during an internship at a hospital in 1885, she introduced alarm bells to ambulances that had once been exclusive to the fire brigade.
Morrones, Beatriz, Perio, "Cecilia Grierson, pioneer of the professionalization of Nursing in Argentina"
Grierson introduced British nursing practices and founded the first Nurses' school in Argentina. They taught child care, first aid and patient treatment. This later led to the creation of the Nurses' School of the Argentine Medical Circle, later becoming the Municipal Nursing School "Dr. Cecilia Grierson."
Despite discovering that it was illegal for her to practice medicine, she never deterred. Three years after graduating, she founded the Argentine First Aid Society while also offering anatomy classes and providing consultations to special needs children.
She founded the National Obstetric Association, adopting the best methods from Parisian clinics in 1901. In 1909, she would travel to Europe to study social issues that concerned women, receiving acknowledgement from The National Education Council.
Grierson herself was radical feminist, becoming the Vice-President of the International Council of Women and the founder of the Argentine Women’s Council. The principal declarations adopted there called for the reforms to ensure equal civil and legal rights between sexes and women’s political rights.
Wikimedia, "Argentine doctor Cecilia Grierson with other teachers during a test in the Medical School of the University of Buenos Aires."
“Grierson was part of a generation which, as Alicia Moreau de Justo has pointed out, had the courage to break the silence which shrouded these problems (civil and political rights, the situation of children, be they legitimate or not, family organization, divorce, the fight against alcoholism, prostitution and gambling) at a time when many men did not care to discuss such topics in public (Barrancos 2007: 114).”
Barry, Carolina, Irlandeses, "Cecilia Grierson: Argentina’s First Female Doctor."