This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the women who revolutionised higher education and paved the way for today’s students. From the first female graduates to those who fought for equal access, these women didn’t just attend university, they changed it forever.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson: The First Woman to Earn a Medical Degree in the UK
In the 19th century, women were largely barred from medical education. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson refused to accept that. After being repeatedly turned away from medical schools, she enrolled as a nurse at the Society of Apothecaries and took their exams. She passed with flying colours, making her the first woman in Britain to qualify as a doctor in 1865. Her determination led to the eventual opening of medical schools for women, shaping the future for female doctors in the UK.
Sophia Jex-Blake: The Fight to Open Universities to Women
Sophia Jex-Blake wasn’t just one woman fighting for an education, she was leading a movement. In 1869, she applied to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. When her application was denied because she was a woman, she rallied six other women to join her in what became known as the “Edinburgh Seven.” Their battle for education equality sparked national debate, and while they weren’t allowed to graduate, their struggle led to changes in the law. By 1897, women were finally permitted to study medicine in the UK.
Malala Yousafzai: Fighting for Girls’ Education Worldwide
Fast forward to the present, and Malala Yousafzai is continuing the fight for education. After surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban for advocating girls’ schooling in Pakistan, Malala became a global symbol of resilience and educational rights. In 2017, she started studying at the University of Oxford, proving that education is the most powerful tool for change.
Millicent Fawcett: Championing Higher Education for Women
You might know Millicent Fawcett for her work in the suffrage movement, but did you know she also fought for women’s access to higher education? In the late 1800s, she helped establish Newnham College, Cambridge, one of the first UK universities dedicated to women’s education. While Cambridge refused to grant women full degrees until 1948, Fawcett’s work was crucial in expanding academic opportunities for women.
Dorothy Hodgkin: The First British Woman to Win a Nobel Prize in Science
Dorothy Hodgkin’s impact on academia wasn’t just about breaking barriers, it was about groundbreaking research. Despite the lack of support for women in science, she pursued a career in chemistry and became a pioneer in X-ray crystallography. Her work led to the discovery of the molecular structures of insulin, penicillin, and vitamin B12. In 1964, she became the first (and still the only) British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Mary McLeod Bethune: A Legacy of Education and Activism
Mary McLeod Bethune was a pioneering educator and civil rights leader who transformed education for Black students in the U.S. In 1904, she founded what would become Bethune-Cookman University, one of the first institutions of higher education for Black women. She firmly believed that education was the key to racial and gender equality and dedicated her life to creating opportunities for future generations. Her influence extended beyond academia, as she later became an advisor to U.S. presidents on education and civil rights.
These women didn’t just earn degrees, they redefined what was possible for female students. Thanks to their resilience, today’s universities are open to all, offering equal opportunities regardless of gender.
Happy International Women’s Day! 💜
Comments