Every year, Women’s History Month is observed to honour the contributions made by women to historical events and modern society. The history of women’s job prospects and educational possibilities in Scotland is complex.
Women were not allowed to graduate from Scottish universities until 1892. Even though there are more female students than ever before, less than 30% of students majoring in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and medicine) are female.
Though numerous women have made significant contributions to science and medicine over the centuries, relatively few are recognised for their roles in Scottish history.
The “Edinburgh Seven” were the first female students at any UK university to study medicine.
Sophia Jex-Blake led the pioneering team which included Isabel Thorne, Edith Pechey, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans, Mary Anderson, and Emily Bovell.
Together, they battled to grant women the right to become doctors in Britain.
Despite having the same lectures, their classes were scored differently than the men’s, which limited their chances of receiving scholarships.
The women even had to deal with a disturbance that was started by demonstrators who wanted to keep them from taking their anatomy exam. Newspaper stories about the chaos attracted attention across the country. More female students enrolled in their classes, and they received national support. The General Committee was established to ensure that women receive a comprehensive medical education.
Regretfully, the women’s battle to graduate was lost despite their immense efforts. The Court of Session declared in 1873 that they were not entitled to their degrees.
In the later 1870s, five of the initial seven women finished their degrees abroad. In 1886, Sophia Jex-Blake established the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women after making her way back to Edinburgh. She was the first female physician in the city.
The University of Edinburgh and other Scottish universities began to admit women in 1892.
