Women Physicians and Professional Ethos in Nineteenth-Century America

"Women Physicians and Professional Ethos" examines the challenges faced by 19th-century women doctors in gaining acceptance amidst evolving standards that emphasized masculinity and specific professional traits. The book highlights how women navigated the delicate balance of demonstrating competence while maintaining femininity, and explores the influence of women—including African American and Native American women—on medical and popular discourse. Through analysis of various texts and speeches, Carolyn Skinner reevaluates the rhetorical strategies used by these women to assert their authority and expertise in a male-dominated field.