Lovisa Aarberg facts for kids

Lovisa Årberg (1803–1866) was a pioneering Swedish doctor and surgeon. She was one of the very first women in Sweden to work as a doctor. This was a long time before women were officially allowed to study medicine or become doctors. Along with Kisamor, she helped open doors for future female doctors. In Sweden, her name is spelled Lovisa Årberg. People often called her Jungfru Årberg, which means "Maiden Årberg" in English.

Early Life and Learning

Lovisa Årberg was born in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. Her mother often helped sick people in their community. As a child, Lovisa would go with her mother to the hospitals. This is where she learned a lot about different illnesses. She also learned how to care for and help sick people get better. She often used this knowledge to help friends and family when they were unwell.

A Doctor Against the Rules

When Lovisa grew up, she moved to Stockholm and started working as a maid. But people soon heard about her special skills. They knew she was good at helping sick people. Many people started coming to her, asking for medical help. Soon, even wealthy people sought her advice. They paid her for her treatments. This allowed Lovisa to stop working as a maid. She could then focus on her true calling: being a doctor.

Opening Her Own Clinic

Lovisa Årberg opened her own clinic in the 1820s. She began working as a doctor and a surgeon. At this time, it was against the law for women to be doctors. The male doctors of the time were not happy about a woman practicing medicine. The government was also worried. They feared she might harm patients since she had not studied at a university.

Earning Official Permission

However, the government decided to examine her skills. They found out that Lovisa was a very good doctor. She had just as much knowledge as the male doctors. Because of her great skill, they gave her a special medal. She also received official permission to work as a surgeon and a doctor. This was a huge step for women in medicine.

Her Long Career

Lovisa Årberg continued to work as a doctor for about forty years. She treated many people until the 1860s. She was known for helping poor people, even if they could not pay her. Many people came to her for help, and she became a very popular doctor. She worked very hard for many years. Sometimes, she even had to take time off to rest because she became unwell herself.