Johanna Hedén facts for kids
Johanna Maria Hedén (born Bowall) was a truly amazing Swedish woman who lived from 1837 to 1912. She was a skilled midwife, helping mothers give birth safely. But she was also much more! Johanna became the first known woman in Sweden to be officially trained and licensed as a Feldsher (a type of surgeon). This meant she could perform medical operations, which was a huge step for women in medicine at that time. She was also an apothecary (someone who prepares and sells medicines) and a barber.
Johanna's Early Life and Medical Journey
Johanna Hedén grew up in a family that wasn't rich. A sad event in her childhood shaped her future: her mother died during childbirth because the midwife wasn't skilled enough. This made Johanna determined to become a very good midwife herself.
At first, her father didn't want her to get an education because she was a girl. He found her a job as a house helper in Stockholm. However, her employer convinced Johanna's brother to let her study.
In 1858, Johanna earned her license as a midwife. After that, she also trained to become an apothecary. Back then, a "feldsher" or "barber surgeon" was a medical person who performed simpler operations. On August 7, 1863, Johanna Hedén took her oath and passed her exam to become a barber and feldsher surgeon. This officially made her the first trained female surgeon in Sweden! She was then allowed to work professionally in this field. Johanna herself said about this: "I took my exam as a feldsher, which made my male colleagues very unhappy, and after this I worked at factories and often helped with injuries."
Helping Other Women
In 1867, Johanna Hedén became a teacher at a school for midwives in Gothenburg. She worked hard to support other women in her profession.
In 1885, Johanna founded Göteborgs Barnmorskesällskap (the Gothenburg Midwifery Association). This was the first union for women in Sweden! The next year, in 1886, she started the Svenska Barnmorskeförbundet (Swedish Midwifery Association). She also created a newspaper for midwives called Jordemodern in 1888.
Johanna was married and had a daughter. Sadly, her daughter passed away at the age of one in 1877.
Remembering Johanna Hedén
Johanna Hedén is still remembered today for her important work. A street in Gothenburg, Sweden, was named after her. There is also a statue of Johanna Hedén by Inga-Louise Lindgren in front of the Östra Hospital in Gothenburg. She truly was a pioneer for women in medicine!
