Madeleine Pelletier

Madeleine Pelletier (18 May 1874 – 29 December 1939) was a French physician, psychiatrist, first-wave feminist, and socialist activist. She was a pioneer in her efforts to integrate women into the medical profession and was deeply involved in the women's rights movement in France.

Early life and education

Pelletier was born in Paris, France, in 1874. She was raised in a poor family and was sent to an orphanage at a young age. Despite these hardships, she managed to excel in her studies and was admitted to the University of Paris where she studied medicine. She became the first woman in France to become a psychiatrist.

Career

Pelletier was deeply committed to the cause of women's rights. She was a member of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), a socialist political party, and was involved in various feminist organizations. She advocated for women's suffrage, access to education, and the right to work in any profession. She also campaigned against the regulation of prostitution and the double standards applied to men and women in sexual matters.

As a psychiatrist, Pelletier was interested in the relationship between mental illness and social conditions. She argued that many mental illnesses were the result of societal pressures and inequalities, rather than inherent biological factors.

Later life and legacy

Pelletier continued to be active in politics and medicine until her death in 1939. Her contributions to medicine and the women's rights movement have been recognized by various organizations and institutions. She is remembered as a pioneer in her field and a tireless advocate for women's rights.

See also

• Women in medicine
• Feminism in France
• History of psychiatry

External links

• Britannica Biography: Madeleine Pelletier

Madeleine Pelletier Resources
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