CECILIA GRIERSON: BIOGRAPHY AND ACHIEVEMENTS - MEDICINE - 2025

Cecilia Grierson was the first female doctor in Argentina and Latin America. She exercised activities such as education, philanthropy, writing literature, plastic arts and gymnastics. She was a defender of nature and a social fighter. In this last area, she stood out especially for her fight in favor of women's civil rights.

As part of their struggle, Cecilia Grierson collaborated in the drafting of the Argentine Civil Code, which is still in force. Their participation was relevant, especially with regard to the matter of the property rights of married women, since they were not legally considered subjects of law with respect to their spouse.

She founded the first school for nurses in her country, also being the first in Latin America. In 1891 she was co-founder of the Argentine Medical Association and in 1892 she founded the Argentine First Aid Society, which later merged with the Red Cross.

Biography

Cecilia Grierson was born on November 2, 1859 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In her first years of life, she was based in the Republic of Uruguay with her father. Later she lived in the town of Gena, province of Entre Ríos, in Argentina, a rural area par excellence.

Given his Scottish and Irish ancestry, his features were typical of those Nordic places. He had a very fair complexion, sky blue eyes, and light brown curly hair.

His first studies were attended in prominent English schools in Buenos Aires, but due to the sudden death of his father Parish Robertson Grierson, he had to leave his studies and return home. There he helped his mother Jane Duffy, in the care of her five younger siblings.

Among the jobs she did as a teenager to support her home, her work as a children's governess stands out. This job left her a very good experience, motivated that teaching was her great passion.

Studies

At just 15 years of age, Cecilia studied at the Escuela Normal de Señoritas de Buenos Aires. In 1878 she graduated as a primary school teacher. According to manuscripts left by this great professional, since she was a girl she dreamed of teaching.

The director of schools Domingo F. Sarmiento appointed her as a tenured teacher at the Mixed School of San Cristóbal when Cecilia was only 18 years old.

However, it was the death of Amelia Kenig - one of her best friends - that marked her professional destiny. After her death, she made it her goal to heal and avoid pain for others.

There were very difficult times for the young and restless Cecilia, motivated that in the university world of the 19th century women were not well accepted as students. Despite this, she managed to enroll in the Faculty of Medicine.

During her time at the School of Medicine, Cecilia Grierson participated in the creation and implementation of practical medicine classes, since the pensum included only the theoretical part.

In addition, as a medical student, he created the Latin American School of Nurses, of which he was in charge until 1913. He also established the use of a uniform for nurses, with great acceptance in most Latin countries.

Works and recognitions

In 1885 the then high school graduate Grierson applied for the vacant position of Pathological Histology Trainer, a position she held until 1888. Despite thousands of efforts, she was always discriminated against by classmates and professors for being a woman.

In 1888, she was appointed a junior practitioner at the Rivadavia Hospital and on July 2, 1889, at the age of twenty-three, Grierson managed to graduate as a doctor from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires. It turned out to be the first woman to obtain such a title, both in her country and in all of Latin America.

Professional achievements

Already qualified as a doctor, Cecilia Grierson worked for the San Roque Hospital. She dedicated herself to gynecology and obstetrics; Due to her condition as a woman, she was never able to practice in the surgery area.

He intensely taught in the university and technical field. She dedicated herself to childcare and promoted help to people with special conditions, such as deaf and dumb people, the blind and others with different disabilities.

In 1891 he was part of the Argentine Medical Association, and the following year, in 1892, he founded the Argentine Society of First Aid.

Among so many achievements of this doctor and teacher, the inauguration of first aid dispensaries to help the sick in various locations in Argentina stands out. She also created classrooms to give talks and classes in the field of health.

In addition to all the achievements already obtained, Dr. Cecilia Grierson was present and participated in the first cesarean section performed in Argentina.

Gender discrimination

One of the saddest situations that this Argentine doctor experienced was the one that occurred in 1894, when she applied for the position of obstetrics teacher for midwives. The contest was declared void, with the intention of not giving participation or giving that position to a female doctor.

However, years later he managed to be a teacher at the university level: he taught courses on medical gymnastics and kinesiotherapy at the Faculty of Medicine. He also served as a teacher in the chair of Medical Physics and Obstetrics, between 1904 and 1905.

Foundation of institutions

In 1902 he founded the School of Home Economics and the Society of Home Economics, these institutions being the ones that originated the Technical Home School, the only one of its kind in Argentina.

He subsequently took a series of professional improvement courses in gynecology and obstetrics in Paris, Vienna, Berlin and Leipzig. She had the opportunity to visit renowned clinics to bring these models to Argentina.

Another success for Grierson was the presidency of the Argentine Congress of University Women and the organization of the First International Feminist Congress of the Argentine Republic.

Participation in the Civil Code

A very important achievement of this fighter was that she was involved in the reform of the current Civil Code, in which the patrimonial and civil rights of Argentine women were leveled to those of their husbands.

In 1913 he resigned from the School of Nurses and Masseurs, and in 1916 he abandoned teaching. In 1927 the Argentine government entrusted him to travel to Europe to study the advances in those countries.

Death

On April 10, 1934, Dr. Cecilia Grierson died in her hometown, Buenos Aires. Her remains rest in the British Cemetery of Argentina.

In honor of her, the Buenos Aires School of Nursing adopted her name in 1935, as a tribute to her great works.

References

1. Argentine Biographical, Historical and Geographical Dictionary, El Ateneo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, pp. 175.
2. Encyclopedic Dictionary Quillet, Glorier, 1976.
3. Great Encyclopedia Rialp GER, (1971) Ediciones RIALP, SA
4. Women with a Conscience. (2015) Cecilia Grierson. Recovered in: mujeresconciencia.com
5. (S / D) Cecilia Grierson, the first Argentine doctor - (2010) Cecilia Grierson. Recovered at: scielo.org.ar