Over centuries, women have always sought to, more or less discreetly, stand up against the subhuman conditions in which they lived, the low salary they earned in comparison with men and the discrimination they suffered from society, as British writer Mary Wollstonecraft states in her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792.
These movements became more prominent as a result of a demonstration in New York in 1857, where factory workers demonstrated their displeasure against excessive work hours, combined with poor factory conditions and low wages, demanding more rights and better conditions in their workplaces, as well as the right to vote.
It was in the year 1909 that February28th was first celebrated as International Women's Day. It celebrates its 110th anniversary this year.
This day was initially celebrated on the last Sunday of February, but the date change was proposed by German revolutionist Clara Zetkin, during a conference of socialist organizations held in Copenhagen, suggesting March 8th as International Women's Day. This date was chosen in honour of the march held in 1917, which brought together about 90,000 people, organized by Russian women who demanded better living conditions.
However, although March 8th has been celebrated around the world for a few years now, it was only officially proclaimed by the UN in 1975. In 1979, a Convention was adopted to extinguish discrimination, recall the conquests already made by women and to encourage them to continue to fight for equal rights.
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WOMEN THROUGH TIME
In a global way, over the centuries, some activities such as medicine, ecclesiasticism, law or the military were considered exclusively male activities. Medicine was even considered immoral when exercised by a woman, although there are records of the collaboration of women in health as nurses since the Middle Ages. Nursing was a role often exercised by the members of religious orders, who provided care to patients and acted as midwives.
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In Ancient Egypt
We noted that in ancient Egypt, professions were available to both men and women, including religious activities, administration, business and medicine. Women became great experts in various areas of knowledge, namely medicine.
It is estimated that the first female doctor in the world was Merit Ptah, who lived in 2700 BC, described as ‘Chief Physician’, she practiced gynaecology and obstetrics.
Another renowned physician in ancient Egypt was Peseshet. It is thought that she lived between 3100-2100 BC, considered as “Supervisor of the Physicians” or “Head of the Physicians”.
size="20"
In the Middle Ages
It is known that in the Middle Ages there was a school in Salerno where women could enrol to study medicine. Trota of Salerno, considered the first known gynaecologist, wrote various treaties that were fundamental for women’s medical treatments and were followed for 400 years. She even did Caesarean sections, at great risk for both mothers and children. She passed away in 1097.
size="20"
In the Contemporary Age
During the 18th and 19th centuries, despite some difficulties, some of the most brave and ambitious women managed to break down, circumvent and overcome the various obstacles and prejudices, sometimes causing admiration and others repudiation in the societies in which they were inserted.
This is the case of the German Dorotea Cristiana Erxleben, the first woman to receive a Doctor's Degree at the University of Halle in 1754, causing enormous admiration throughout Europe.
On the contrary, in the United States, in 1809, the first students enrolled in a medical school in Pennsylvania were victims of insults and disrespect from their male counterparts.
Around the same time, in Edinburgh, the first female students in medicine were insulted and beaten by male disciples. Subsequently accused and deemed guilty of the disturbances, they were expelled and nicknamed by the press of the time as "the shameless seven".
Perhaps influenced by the legend of Agnodice (a Greek woman doctor passing as a man who lived in the 4th century BC) in 1812 Dr. James Barry, who served in the English army and was a military doctor in the English colonies for a long time, graduated from Edinburgh University. Of small stature and with a high-pitched voice, it was only after his death, in 1865, that he was discovered to be a woman after all.
size="20"
And in Portugal
Also in our country, especially in early 20th century, there were women that made a difference. They took positions in society, fought for their rights and went into professions that were previously dominated by men. Let's talk briefly about some of them.
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Elisa Augusta da Conceição Andrade (1855-?)
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Elisa Augusta da Conceição Andrade is considered to be the first Portuguese Physician.
She is considered to be the first woman to go to College and finish a Degree in Medicine. In 1880, at the age of 25, she enrolled at the Polytechnic School of Lisbon (later the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon) and finished her studies in 1890.
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Carolina Beatriz Ângelo (1871 –1911)
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Born in Guarda, besides being the first Physician, she was also the first surgeon in our country and the first to exercise the right to vote in the elections held on 28 May 1911, after the establishment of the Republic, evoking her status as head of the family, as she was a widow and a mother.
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Regina Quintanilha (1893-1967)
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The first woman to have a Bachelor's Degree in law and to practice law, even before the 1918 Decree, which consecrated the opening of the profession to women.
She made her debut at the Boa Hora Court in 1913, after obtaining authorization from the Supreme Court of Justice.
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Adelaide Cabete (1867-1935)
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From humble beginnings, she attended the Medical-Surgical School of Lisbon already as an adult and with her husband's encouragement. Her masters were illustrious professors such as Alfredo da Costa, , Miguel Bombarda and Curry Cabral.
She finished her medical degree in 1900, defending her thesis on "Protecting pregnant women as a means of promoting the physical development of the new generations". She was a teacher, a physician, a Republican and the first to fight for women's rights, such as voting and a resting period of one month after giving birth.
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Ana de Castro Osório (1872-1935)
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Was one of the founders of the Portuguese Group of Feminist Studies in 1907, the Republican League of Portuguese Women in 1909,, and of the Feminist Propaganda Association (the first Portuguese suffragist organization) in 1912. She joined the International Women Suffrage Alliance.
A writer with a vast literary work, she is considered to be the creator and translator of children's literature in Portugal.
Also noted as an activist and pedagogue, in 1905 “, she wrote "Portuguese Women",, considered to be the first Portuguese feminist manifesto. She participated in the drafting of the Divorce Law of 1910, with the Minister of Justice.
In 1919, she was awarded the Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada and in 1931 with the Civil Order of Agricultural and Industrial Merit.
Cesina Bermudes (1908-2001)
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Cesina Borges Adães Bermudes was born in Lisbon in 1908 and died there in 2001.
Her father, writer and playwright Félix Bermudes, "one of the best-known Portuguese of his time", was a great reference and source of admiration in her life. At the age of 11, she mentioned that she wanted to be a doctor, certainly because of her maternal uncle Lacerda e Melo, who might have awakened her to this profession by telling her "what it was like to be a village doctor" and giving free consultations.
After getting her Degree in Medicine in 1933, she was an Anatomy and Clinic assistant for Prof. Henrique de Vilhena at HCL. In 1947, she became a pioneer in Portugal when she finished her doctorate in Medicine, "and in Anatomy, no less, said Cesina Bermudes with pride and malice".
After attending a course on parturition in Paris in 1954, she introduced and disseminated the psychoprophylactic delivery (childbirth without pain) in our country, by providing training to midwives.
She played a prominent role in the anti-fascist Resistance. In the 1940s, she became politically involved and signed for the Movement of Democratic Unity in 1945. She also supported the candidacy of Norton de Matos. As a member of the Central Committee of the National Democratic Women's Movement, she was arrested in late 1949, and released in early 1950. Because she opposed Salazar's regime, she was barred from teaching at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon and had to resort to teaching Child Care in several industrial schools.
In addition to being a swimming champion, she also participated in bicycle and car racing.
She was a member of the Anatomical Society of Portugal and the Luso-Spanish-American Anatomical Society. She was also a member of the Portuguese Theosophical Society, which was why she believed in reincarnation and opted for a vegetarian diet.
size="20"
At the entrance of FMUL, on the 1st Floor, there is a painting by brilliant painter Américo Marinho, where Cesina Bermudes, the only female figure, is represented, besides distinguished professors Henrique de Vilhena, Corino de Andrade, Pedro Mayer Garção, Victor Fontes, Barbosa Sueiro and Cid dos Santos. This work, property of the Institute of Anatomy, entitled "Doctors Watching", undated, probably unfinished and charcoaled on canvas, represents an anatomy lesson.
On March 6th of this year, RTP 2 aired a documentary about the life and work of Dr. Cesina Bermudes. You can watch here
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Lurdes Barata
Editorial Team
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References:
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesina_Bermudes
https://lifestyle.sapo.pt/vida-e-carreira/noticias-vida-e-carreira/artigos/historia-dia-internacional-da-mulher
https://super.abril.com.br/mundo-estranho/mulheres-que-mudaram-a-historia-trota-a-primeira-ginecologista/
http://cnncba.blogspot.com/2010/09/medicina-e-mulheres-no-antigo-egito.html
http://memoria.ul.pt/index.php/Quadro_de_Am%C3%A9rico_Marinho_%E2%80%98M%C3%A9dicos_Observando%E2%80%99
http://books.scielo.org/id/8kf92/pdf/rezende-9788561673635-14.pdf
https://portugaldeantigamente.blogs.sapo.pt/a-primeira-medica-portuguesa-32869
https://justnews.pt/noticias/ordem-dos-medicos-homenageou-as-primeiras-medicas-e-farmaceuticas-portuguesas#.XIejTk27Lcs
These movements became more prominent as a result of a demonstration in New York in 1857, where factory workers demonstrated their displeasure against excessive work hours, combined with poor factory conditions and low wages, demanding more rights and better conditions in their workplaces, as well as the right to vote.
It was in the year 1909 that February28th was first celebrated as International Women's Day. It celebrates its 110th anniversary this year.
This day was initially celebrated on the last Sunday of February, but the date change was proposed by German revolutionist Clara Zetkin, during a conference of socialist organizations held in Copenhagen, suggesting March 8th as International Women's Day. This date was chosen in honour of the march held in 1917, which brought together about 90,000 people, organized by Russian women who demanded better living conditions.
However, although March 8th has been celebrated around the world for a few years now, it was only officially proclaimed by the UN in 1975. In 1979, a Convention was adopted to extinguish discrimination, recall the conquests already made by women and to encourage them to continue to fight for equal rights.
size="30"
WOMEN THROUGH TIME
In a global way, over the centuries, some activities such as medicine, ecclesiasticism, law or the military were considered exclusively male activities. Medicine was even considered immoral when exercised by a woman, although there are records of the collaboration of women in health as nurses since the Middle Ages. Nursing was a role often exercised by the members of religious orders, who provided care to patients and acted as midwives.
size="20"
In Ancient Egypt
We noted that in ancient Egypt, professions were available to both men and women, including religious activities, administration, business and medicine. Women became great experts in various areas of knowledge, namely medicine.
It is estimated that the first female doctor in the world was Merit Ptah, who lived in 2700 BC, described as ‘Chief Physician’, she practiced gynaecology and obstetrics.
Another renowned physician in ancient Egypt was Peseshet. It is thought that she lived between 3100-2100 BC, considered as “Supervisor of the Physicians” or “Head of the Physicians”.
size="20"
In the Middle Ages
It is known that in the Middle Ages there was a school in Salerno where women could enrol to study medicine. Trota of Salerno, considered the first known gynaecologist, wrote various treaties that were fundamental for women’s medical treatments and were followed for 400 years. She even did Caesarean sections, at great risk for both mothers and children. She passed away in 1097.
size="20"
In the Contemporary Age
During the 18th and 19th centuries, despite some difficulties, some of the most brave and ambitious women managed to break down, circumvent and overcome the various obstacles and prejudices, sometimes causing admiration and others repudiation in the societies in which they were inserted.
This is the case of the German Dorotea Cristiana Erxleben, the first woman to receive a Doctor's Degree at the University of Halle in 1754, causing enormous admiration throughout Europe.
On the contrary, in the United States, in 1809, the first students enrolled in a medical school in Pennsylvania were victims of insults and disrespect from their male counterparts.
Around the same time, in Edinburgh, the first female students in medicine were insulted and beaten by male disciples. Subsequently accused and deemed guilty of the disturbances, they were expelled and nicknamed by the press of the time as "the shameless seven".
Perhaps influenced by the legend of Agnodice (a Greek woman doctor passing as a man who lived in the 4th century BC) in 1812 Dr. James Barry, who served in the English army and was a military doctor in the English colonies for a long time, graduated from Edinburgh University. Of small stature and with a high-pitched voice, it was only after his death, in 1865, that he was discovered to be a woman after all.
size="20"
And in Portugal
Also in our country, especially in early 20th century, there were women that made a difference. They took positions in society, fought for their rights and went into professions that were previously dominated by men. Let's talk briefly about some of them.
size="20"
Elisa Augusta da Conceição Andrade (1855-?)
size="10"
Elisa Augusta da Conceição Andrade is considered to be the first Portuguese Physician.
She is considered to be the first woman to go to College and finish a Degree in Medicine. In 1880, at the age of 25, she enrolled at the Polytechnic School of Lisbon (later the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon) and finished her studies in 1890.
size="10"
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo (1871 –1911)
size="10"
Born in Guarda, besides being the first Physician, she was also the first surgeon in our country and the first to exercise the right to vote in the elections held on 28 May 1911, after the establishment of the Republic, evoking her status as head of the family, as she was a widow and a mother.
size="10"
Regina Quintanilha (1893-1967)
size="10"
The first woman to have a Bachelor's Degree in law and to practice law, even before the 1918 Decree, which consecrated the opening of the profession to women.
She made her debut at the Boa Hora Court in 1913, after obtaining authorization from the Supreme Court of Justice.
size="10"
Adelaide Cabete (1867-1935)
size="10"
From humble beginnings, she attended the Medical-Surgical School of Lisbon already as an adult and with her husband's encouragement. Her masters were illustrious professors such as Alfredo da Costa, , Miguel Bombarda and Curry Cabral.
She finished her medical degree in 1900, defending her thesis on "Protecting pregnant women as a means of promoting the physical development of the new generations". She was a teacher, a physician, a Republican and the first to fight for women's rights, such as voting and a resting period of one month after giving birth.
size="10"
Ana de Castro Osório (1872-1935)
size="10"
Was one of the founders of the Portuguese Group of Feminist Studies in 1907, the Republican League of Portuguese Women in 1909,, and of the Feminist Propaganda Association (the first Portuguese suffragist organization) in 1912. She joined the International Women Suffrage Alliance.
A writer with a vast literary work, she is considered to be the creator and translator of children's literature in Portugal.
Also noted as an activist and pedagogue, in 1905 “, she wrote "Portuguese Women",, considered to be the first Portuguese feminist manifesto. She participated in the drafting of the Divorce Law of 1910, with the Minister of Justice.
In 1919, she was awarded the Military Order of Sant'Iago da Espada and in 1931 with the Civil Order of Agricultural and Industrial Merit.
Cesina Bermudes (1908-2001)
size="10"
Cesina Borges Adães Bermudes was born in Lisbon in 1908 and died there in 2001.
Her father, writer and playwright Félix Bermudes, "one of the best-known Portuguese of his time", was a great reference and source of admiration in her life. At the age of 11, she mentioned that she wanted to be a doctor, certainly because of her maternal uncle Lacerda e Melo, who might have awakened her to this profession by telling her "what it was like to be a village doctor" and giving free consultations.
After getting her Degree in Medicine in 1933, she was an Anatomy and Clinic assistant for Prof. Henrique de Vilhena at HCL. In 1947, she became a pioneer in Portugal when she finished her doctorate in Medicine, "and in Anatomy, no less, said Cesina Bermudes with pride and malice".
After attending a course on parturition in Paris in 1954, she introduced and disseminated the psychoprophylactic delivery (childbirth without pain) in our country, by providing training to midwives.
She played a prominent role in the anti-fascist Resistance. In the 1940s, she became politically involved and signed for the Movement of Democratic Unity in 1945. She also supported the candidacy of Norton de Matos. As a member of the Central Committee of the National Democratic Women's Movement, she was arrested in late 1949, and released in early 1950. Because she opposed Salazar's regime, she was barred from teaching at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon and had to resort to teaching Child Care in several industrial schools.
In addition to being a swimming champion, she also participated in bicycle and car racing.
She was a member of the Anatomical Society of Portugal and the Luso-Spanish-American Anatomical Society. She was also a member of the Portuguese Theosophical Society, which was why she believed in reincarnation and opted for a vegetarian diet.
size="20"
At the entrance of FMUL, on the 1st Floor, there is a painting by brilliant painter Américo Marinho, where Cesina Bermudes, the only female figure, is represented, besides distinguished professors Henrique de Vilhena, Corino de Andrade, Pedro Mayer Garção, Victor Fontes, Barbosa Sueiro and Cid dos Santos. This work, property of the Institute of Anatomy, entitled "Doctors Watching", undated, probably unfinished and charcoaled on canvas, represents an anatomy lesson.
On March 6th of this year, RTP 2 aired a documentary about the life and work of Dr. Cesina Bermudes. You can watch here
size="40"
Lurdes Barata
Editorial Team
size="40"
References:
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesina_Bermudes
https://lifestyle.sapo.pt/vida-e-carreira/noticias-vida-e-carreira/artigos/historia-dia-internacional-da-mulher
https://super.abril.com.br/mundo-estranho/mulheres-que-mudaram-a-historia-trota-a-primeira-ginecologista/
http://cnncba.blogspot.com/2010/09/medicina-e-mulheres-no-antigo-egito.html
http://memoria.ul.pt/index.php/Quadro_de_Am%C3%A9rico_Marinho_%E2%80%98M%C3%A9dicos_Observando%E2%80%99
http://books.scielo.org/id/8kf92/pdf/rezende-9788561673635-14.pdf
https://portugaldeantigamente.blogs.sapo.pt/a-primeira-medica-portuguesa-32869
https://justnews.pt/noticias/ordem-dos-medicos-homenageou-as-primeiras-medicas-e-farmaceuticas-portuguesas#.XIejTk27Lcs
