Matilde Montoya facts for kids
Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua (born Mexico City, March 14, 1859 – died Mexico City, January 26, 1939) was a very important woman in Mexico's history. She became the first female physician in the country. Matilde first worked as a midwife, helping mothers and babies. Later, she bravely went to medical school, which was unusual for women then. She earned her doctorate in 1887. After that, she worked as a surgeon and an obstetrician, specializing in childbirth. Matilde Montoya played a big part in helping women gain more rights and get fair chances for education and jobs.
Early Life and Education
Matilde Montoya was the second daughter of Soledad Lafragua and José María Montoya. Her older sister passed away, so Matilde was raised like an only child. From a young age, Matilde loved to study. Her mother strongly supported her and taught her many things.
She finished her primary education when she was just 12 years old. This was very young, and she was too young to go to university. Her family, especially her mother, encouraged her to study gynecology and obstetrics. These fields deal with women's health and childbirth.
After her father died, Matilde faced financial challenges. She enrolled in the School for Obstetrics and Midwifery. This school was connected to the National School of Medicine. She gained practical experience at a hospital in San Andrés. However, she had to leave this program because of her family's money problems. She then joined another school, the School of Midwives and Obstetrics, in Mexico City.
Becoming a Doctor
At 16, Matilde Montoya officially became a midwife. She mostly worked in Puebla until she was 18. She also helped doctors with surgeries. Some doctors, however, did not like that a woman was working in medicine. They even spread rumors about her.
Despite these challenges, Matilde applied to the School of Medicine in Puebla. She had to show her professional records and pass exams in chemistry, physics, zoology, and botany. She passed all her entrance exams. In 1882, she was accepted into the School of Medicine in Mexico City.
Matilde Montoya worked very hard. She passed all her exams in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics. In 1887, she earned her M.D. degree from the Escuela de Medicina de México. This school is now the College of Medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Her graduation was a huge event! The President of Mexico at the time, Porfirio Díaz, and his wife came to congratulate her in person. The Secretary of the Interior officially declared her a doctor of surgery and obstetrics. Matilde Montoya became Mexico's first certified female doctor. Even though some people tried to question her studies, she had excellent grades and proved her skills.
Public Recognition
Matilde Petra Montoya Lafragua became a respected medical professional. She specialized in women's health (gynecology), childbirth (obstetrics), and children's health (pediatrics). When some people criticized her, President José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori supported her. He recognized her talent and even gave her a scholarship. President Díaz believed that women from middle and upper classes should have good education. He saw it as a way for them to succeed in fields like medicine.
Lasting Impact
Matilde Montoya was an important leader and a member of many women's groups. She worked with other pioneering female doctors. She was part of a group of at least 27 female doctors who joined 42 different women's rights organizations. These groups started in the early 1900s. This was a key time for the feminist movement in Mexico. These groups showed how important it was for women to have equal rights.
On March 14, 2019, the search engine Google honored Dr. Matilde Montoya. They created a special Doodle to celebrate her 160th birthday.
See also
In Spanish: Matilde Montoya para niños
