Isala Van Diest
Encyclopedia
Anne Catherine Albertine Isala Van Diest, better known by the name 'Isala Van Diest, born on May 7, 1842 at Louvain
and died February 2, 1916 in Knokke
was the first female medical doctor and the first female university graduate in Belgium
.
, where they came into contact with the progressive environment.
Secondary high schools were not yet at that time available to girls in Belgium, so Isala travelled to Berne
, Switzerland
to prepare for university. She returned to Belgium in 1873 and attempted to register with the Medical Faculty of the Catholic University of Louvain, but was hampered by the refusal of the Roman Catholic religious hierarchy, who suggested to her that she instead become a midwife. She refused this proposal and returned to Bern, since the Swiss universities were the first of Europe
to open up to women and she could pursue medical studies there.
She graduated in 1879, and practised her profession for two years in England
, where women doctors were free to practise since 1866. She was attached to the New Hospital for Women
, and during the time she met many British
feminists.
She once again returned to Belgium, however, to be able to have her medical qualifications recognized, she was forced to complete additional courses at the Free University of Brussels
, open to women since 1880. It then took a Royal Decree in 1884, in order to be allowed to open her own medical practice in Brussels
.
Many of her patients came from the upper classes of Brussels society, but she also treated pensioners at a nursing home for elderly prostitutes and fought for better treatment for prostitutes. A feminist, she founded the Ligue belge du droit des femmes (Belgian Women's Rights League) with Marie Popelin
, the first Belgian woman to receive a degree in Law.
In 1902, progressively losing her eyesight, she ended her professional activities and moved to Knokke
, where she passed her final years.
.
In Belgium, this was the first time that women who were not part of the royal family appeared on piece of Belgian money.
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and died February 2, 1916 in Knokke
Knokke
Knokke is one of a group of communities that are all grouped in the administrative community Knokke-Heist, in the province of West Flanders in Flanders, Belgium. Knokke itself has 15,653 inhabitants .Knokke-Heist has 33,818 inhabitants ....
was the first female medical doctor and the first female university graduate in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Biography
The daughter of an open-minded surgeon and obstetrician, Isala Van Diest and her sisters received the same education as their brother. Their mother also took them on a trip to EnglandEngland
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...
, where they came into contact with the progressive environment.
Secondary high schools were not yet at that time available to girls in Belgium, so Isala travelled to Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to prepare for university. She returned to Belgium in 1873 and attempted to register with the Medical Faculty of the Catholic University of Louvain, but was hampered by the refusal of the Roman Catholic religious hierarchy, who suggested to her that she instead become a midwife. She refused this proposal and returned to Bern, since the Swiss universities were the first of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to open up to women and she could pursue medical studies there.
She graduated in 1879, and practised her profession for two years in 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...
, where women doctors were free to practise since 1866. She was attached to the New Hospital for Women
New Hospital for Women
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital was a hospital in Bloomsbury, London in the United Kingdom. It was operated by the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.-History:...
, and during the time she met many British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
feminists.
She once again returned to Belgium, however, to be able to have her medical qualifications recognized, she was forced to complete additional courses at the Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels
The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. In 1969, it split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel....
, open to women since 1880. It then took a Royal Decree in 1884, in order to be allowed to open her own medical practice in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Many of her patients came from the upper classes of Brussels society, but she also treated pensioners at a nursing home for elderly prostitutes and fought for better treatment for prostitutes. A feminist, she founded the Ligue belge du droit des femmes (Belgian Women's Rights League) with Marie Popelin
Marie Popelin
Marie Popelin was a Belgian feminist, educator, and advocate.Born in Schaerbeek into a middle-class family—one of her brothers was a doctor, another an army officer—Marie Popelin was well educated by the standards of the time and place...
, the first Belgian woman to receive a degree in Law.
In 1902, progressively losing her eyesight, she ended her professional activities and moved to Knokke
Knokke
Knokke is one of a group of communities that are all grouped in the administrative community Knokke-Heist, in the province of West Flanders in Flanders, Belgium. Knokke itself has 15,653 inhabitants .Knokke-Heist has 33,818 inhabitants ....
, where she passed her final years.
Honours
Isala Van Diest and Marie Popelin were together depicted on the 2 euro commemorative coin, 5 million of which were minted in 2011 by the National Bank of Belgium on the occasion of the centenary of International Women's DayInternational Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
.
In Belgium, this was the first time that women who were not part of the royal family appeared on piece of Belgian money.
See also
- Women in medicineWomen in medicineHistorically and in many parts of the world, women's participation in the profession of medicine has been significantly restricted, although women's practice of medicine, informally, in the role of caregivers, or in the allied health professions, has been widespread...
- FeminismFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...