Aletta Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs, better known as Aletta Jacobs (9 February 1854 - 10 August 1929) was the first woman to complete a university course in the Netherlands
and the first female physician
. She was born to a Jewish doctor's family in Sappemeer
. She left the local school when she was 13 to study at a ladies' school but did not enjoy the experience, returning home after just two weeks where she was taught housework by her Dutch
mother, Anna de Jong, but also learned French
and German
in the evenings, and later Latin
and Greek from her father.
In 1871 she began studying at the University of Groningen
, initially on a one year basis, but her request for permanent admission was granted after that year. In 1876 she continued her studies at Amsterdam University, receiving a medical degree in 1878 and a medical doctorate a year later. In her time at university she became increasingly concerned with social injustice and decided to travel to England
to see how women's attempts to study medicine were being sabotaged. On her return a few months later she began to practice as a doctor and psychologist.
She began to associate with members of the Dutch General Trade Union and Dutch government officials. In the winter of 1880 Bernardus Hermanus Heldt, the leader of the Union, allowed her to use rooms in the Union's building to run a class to teach women about hygiene and caring for infants. In response to what she found she began to run a free clinic for destitute women and children, which she continued until she retired from practice. She made pessaries available to these women in order to help them limit the size of their families; some consider this the first birth control clinic.
In 1883 Jacobs became technically eligible to vote, but it was ruled that it was not within the spirit of the law to allow women to vote, despite her appeal. The law was then altered to specify 'male citizen' wherever enfranchisement was mentioned. Jacobs joined the Dutch Association for Woman's Suffrage, becoming its leader in 1903. She helped initiate the Hague Congress of 1915 that led to the formation of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
(WILPF) and also worked to support the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, travelling widely.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the first female physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. She was born to a Jewish doctor's family in Sappemeer
Sappemeer
Sappemeer is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Hoogezand-Sappemeer. It is located to the east of Hoogezand.Sappemeer was a separate municipality until 1949, when it merged with Hoogezand.-External links:*...
. She left the local school when she was 13 to study at a ladies' school but did not enjoy the experience, returning home after just two weeks where she was taught housework by her Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
mother, Anna de Jong, but also learned French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
in the evenings, and later Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Greek from her father.
In 1871 she began studying at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, initially on a one year basis, but her request for permanent admission was granted after that year. In 1876 she continued her studies at Amsterdam University, receiving a medical degree in 1878 and a medical doctorate a year later. In her time at university she became increasingly concerned with social injustice and decided to travel to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to see how women's attempts to study medicine were being sabotaged. On her return a few months later she began to practice as a doctor and psychologist.
She began to associate with members of the Dutch General Trade Union and Dutch government officials. In the winter of 1880 Bernardus Hermanus Heldt, the leader of the Union, allowed her to use rooms in the Union's building to run a class to teach women about hygiene and caring for infants. In response to what she found she began to run a free clinic for destitute women and children, which she continued until she retired from practice. She made pessaries available to these women in order to help them limit the size of their families; some consider this the first birth control clinic.
In 1883 Jacobs became technically eligible to vote, but it was ruled that it was not within the spirit of the law to allow women to vote, despite her appeal. The law was then altered to specify 'male citizen' wherever enfranchisement was mentioned. Jacobs joined the Dutch Association for Woman's Suffrage, becoming its leader in 1903. She helped initiate the Hague Congress of 1915 that led to the formation of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...
(WILPF) and also worked to support the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, travelling widely.