Women in White Coats

How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine

By: Olivia Campbell

Narrated by: Jean Ann Douglass

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of Hidden Figures and Radium Girls comes the remarkable story of three Victorian women who broke down barriers in the medical field to become the first women doctors, revolutionizing the way women receive health care.

In the early 1900s, women were dying in large numbers from treatable diseases because they avoided receiving medical care. Examinations performed by male doctors were often demeaning and even painful. In addition, women faced stigma from illness—a diagnosis could greatly limit their ability to find husbands, jobs or be received in polite society.

Motivated by personal loss and frustration over inadequate medical care, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lizzie Garret Anderson and Sophie Jex-Blake fought for a woman's place in the male-dominated medical field. For the first time ever, Women in White Coats tells the complete history of these three pioneering women who, despite countless obstacles, earned medical degrees and paved the way for other women to do the same. Though very different in personality and circumstance, together these women built women-run hospitals and teaching colleges—creating for the first time medical care for women by women.

With gripping storytelling based on extensive research and access to archival documents, Women in White Coats tells the courageous history these women made by becoming doctors, detailing the boundaries they broke in gender and science to reshape how we receive medical care today.

©2021 Olivia Campbell (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Great story, but...

The history of women physicians/women in medicine was absolutely wonderful. But this narrator was not the right one for this. This is a better book to read rather than listen to, in my opinion. The narrator was too slow and soft spoken which made it feels like it was just dragging on. I eventually had to put it to 2x speed to make it tolerable to listen to/stay awake during.

What a tightrope for women to balance on

Strong women. Not sure I would have been so courageous. Kiddos to the men who stood up in support of these women. That also took courage.

you’ve indeed “come a long way,baby” through a tedious journey to success!

Even in 2021, when the majority of medical students are now women, this book should be inspirational to the new generations to follow. All health care persons NEED TO KNOW the shoulders upon which they stand. The struggles to balance career, parenting, coupling remain daunting to be sure, but women’s contributions remain crucial to provide comprehensive CARE to all societal needs.

Not fast paced or exiting.....but Very informative

I love learning medical history so this was a good listen. I learned a great deal but there was no psazz.

Great history of women in medicine

Everything about this Audible book was enjoyable. The narrator did a great job (and that’s a necessity for me when purchasing an Audible book). The writing was clear, accurate and amazingly informative.

I’m a retired certified nurse-midwife (I have a Masters degree in nursing), but I remember my mother telling me in the 1950’s that women were nurses, not doctors. So, it has literally taken about 150 years to get to where we are today - in great part due to the women and events recounted in this book.

I’d recommend it highly to all.

The courage and integrity of the women in white. Should be required reading for guidance counselors🙏

I enjoyed the brave journey and how they were persistent in overcoming so many challenges to pursue and achieve their goal.

the women

Amazing

This is a well researched, well executed inspiring story of the women who strove to make medicine their vocation against all odds. It would have helped me appreciate the story more if there was even more in the way of background regarding the times and typical (expected) lives of women in those times—cities, sewage, lighting, transportation etc. This a great book and an amazing story!

I learned a great deal

This book gives an amazing history of women in medicine. I learned a great deal and I am very impressed with their journey. The book is long and a bit dry; as expected I suppose. I could not read it straight through I had to take breaks with other books since it was heavy. Worth the read, just be prepared to focus to absorb all the interesting content.

Well told

There is much to learn from the telling of this experience. I struggled at times with the melding of timelines.

Three courageous women you’ll be cheering on.

I loved this book! I learned so many things about medical thinking in the Victorian era in general but the lasting flavor of the book for me is the gratitude I have for the efforts and contributions of the three pioneers of women’s struggle for inclusion and recognition in the medical field. The book is beautifully written and engrossing from beginning to end.