MATILDE MONTOYA: BIOGRAPHY - MEDICINE - 2025

Matilde Montoya (Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua) was the first Mexican woman to obtain a medical degree, followed by a doctorate. She was born in 1859 in Mexico City and as a young woman she worked as a midwife and surgical assistant. Once she obtained her doctorate from the Mexican School of Medicine, she was declared a doctor of surgery and obstetrics.

Matilde Montoya's career as the first Mexican doctor opened the doors for the women of Mexico to start studying medicine officially, at a time when their entry into the country's faculties was not yet allowed.

Matilde Montoya in the newspaper El album de la mujer

Despite having 2 siblings, she was raised as an only child. Her brother was raised by her grandmother and her sister passed away young. Her father prohibited her mother from leaving the house. Therefore, Matilde's mother devoted herself exclusively to her upbringing. Matilde had an excellent education at home, given by her mother.

He had achieved such a high level of education that his young age prevented him from advancing through the institutional bureaucracies. Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua died in 1939 at the age of 79.

Biography

On March 14, 1857, in Mexico City, Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua was born, known as Matilde Montoya, daughter of José María Montoya and Soledad Lafragua.

His father was a man of conservative traditions who did not allow his wife to leave their home. Her mother was a native of Puebla and was orphaned as a child. She was raised in the Convento de la Enseñanza, in Mexico City, where she was taught to read and write.

Little Matilde enjoyed her mother's education, and by the age of four she had become an avid reader. She always showed an intense desire to learn and her mother was in charge of teaching her.

Studies

It was part of the Elementary Education program, which consisted of 3 years of primary and 3 years of higher education. At the age of 11, they wanted to enroll her in the Upper Primary School to continue her studies, but she still did not meet the age requirements.

Therefore, his family hired private tutors to develop his studies. At the age of 13, she took the official elementary teacher exam and passed it, but then she had trouble getting a job due to her young age.

When her father died, Matilde Montoya enrolled in the National School of Medicine to study the career of Obstetrics and Midwife.

Unable to pay for her studies at that institution, she had to enroll in the Midwives and Obstetricians School of the Maternity Home. This institution was characterized by caring for single mothers or by giving care to hidden births.

After two years of theoretical studies, an exam and practices at the Maternity House, at the age of 16 Matilde Montoya received the title of Midwife. She finished these studies at the Establishment of Medical Sciences and emigrated to Puebla to work as a midwife.

Exercise as a midwife

While taking classes in private schools for women to complete her high school studies, Matilde worked as a midwife. In addition, she was a surgical assistant to doctors Luis Muñoz and Manuel Soriano.

As a midwife, she had a large clientele who trusted her services due to the human quality of her care. Her professionalism and knowledge were considered more advanced than that of many of the local doctors.

This earned him some enemies in his professional field. Some doctors organized campaigns against her, vilifying her in the local media. They published articles urging not to hire this midwife because she was a Freemason and a Protestant. This campaign concluded with a period of retirement in Veracruz.

Medicine studies

When he returned to Puebla, he applied to enroll in the Puebla School of Medicine. It was accepted with public approval and the assistance of important political and social personalities. Despite the support, several groups insisted on attacking her, arguing that a "shameless and dangerous woman intends to become a doctor."

After the criticism, Matilde returns to her mother's house in Mexico City. In 1882 they accepted their enrollment in the National School of Medicine.

Criticism was not lacking in that institution either. It was argued that it must be very wicked to be able to see the corpses of naked men. However, she also had people who gave her a lot of support and who were nicknamed by her detractors as "los montoyos."

Revalidation

Before the freshman exams, his critics requested a review of the validity of his high school subjects.

Matilde had to make a request to complete the non-validated subjects at the San Ildefonso School. However, her request was rejected because the institution's regulations only referred to male students and not female students.

Matilde Montoya wrote a letter to the President of the Republic, Mr. Porfirio Díaz. General Díaz agreed to give instructions for the school to grant him the possibility of validating his studies.

He completed his studies with good grades. But when requesting his professional examination, he came across a statute that only contemplated students.

Montoya again turned to President Porfirio Díaz. Right away, Díaz asked the Chamber of Deputies to renew the statutes of the National School of Medicine to allow access and graduation for female doctors. Following a decree from the president, Matilde Montoya was able to take her professional examination in 1887.

Graduation

Matilde Montoya successfully completed the theoretical section of the exam, with the presence of several women who were meeting to provide support.

Then he began his practical exam at the Hospital de San Andrés with the presence of President Porfitio Díaz, among other characters.

He toured the hospital patient room answering questions about the different cases. Then she performed the resections of a corpse in the amphitheater. It was finally approved unanimously and, in addition, it was applauded.

Exercise as a doctor

Matilde Montoya practiced as a doctor in her two private practices, one located in Mixcoac and the other in Santa María la Ribera. She charged care based on the possibilities of her patients.

She was a member of several women's associations, such as Ateneo Mexicano de Mujeres and Las Hijas de Anáhuac, as well as participating in the Second Pan-American Conference of Women. Together with Dr. Aurora Uribe, she founded the Association of Mexican Doctors.

Most important contribution of Matilde Montoya

Matilde Montoya's contribution was a paradigm shift in the possibilities of women in medicine. Even the national press supported her graduation, encouraging the updating of more inclusive laws.

In 1937 the Association of Mexican Doctors, the Association of Mexican University Women and the Ateneo de Mujeres paid homage to her at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. A short time later, on January 26, 1938, Matilde Montoya passed away at the age of 79.

References

1. AHUNAM. (sf). general file, student records.
2. Alvarado, L. (sf). First Mexican Medical.
3. National Association of Mexican Doctors, AC (sf).
4. elkiosko.com.mx. (sf). Retrieved on February 22, 2018, from In the networks of time.
5. Ponce, JA (sf). Woman and Medicine: the story of Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua. Internal Medicine of Mexico.