Do Women Belong in Medicine? Discussions, Prejudice and Stereotypes in the Czech lands at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

The present article explores the role and perception of women in medicine in the Czech lands at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, examining the professional training required for nurses and female doctors, the qualifications demanded, and their subsequent career opportunities, with a particular focus on their acceptance within both professional and general discourse—an acceptance often shaped by prevailing gender prejudices. The current analysis of the representation of female medical doctors and nurses is primarily based on contemporary press sources and texts authored by male medical authorities, which evaluated the abilities, qualities, and potential contributions of women in the medical and nursing professions.