Rosina Heikel facts for kids
Emma Rosina Heikel (born March 17, 1842 – died December 13, 1929) was a pioneering Finnish doctor and a strong supporter of women's rights. In 1878, she made history by becoming the very first female doctor in Finland. She chose to specialize in helping women with their health (called gynaecology) and caring for children (called paediatrics).
Contents
Becoming Finland's First Female Doctor
Early Life and Dreams
Rosina Heikel was born in a town called Kaskinen on March 17, 1842. Her father, Carl Johan Heikel, was the mayor of two cities, Oulu and Kokkola. Rosina had two brothers, Alfred and Emil, who both studied medicine.
Rosina went to school in several Finnish towns, including Vaasa, Jakobstad, Porvoo, and Helsinki. She was a very good student! From a young age, she believed that everyone, no matter if they were a boy or a girl, should have the same chances to get an education. By 1862, she had decided she wanted to become a doctor, just like her brothers.
Breaking Barriers in Education
At that time, universities in Finland did not allow women to study medicine. So, Rosina traveled to Sweden to train in physiotherapy (a type of treatment that helps people move better) at the Stockholm Gymnastics Institute. She finished this course in 1866.
After returning to Helsinki, she completed a course in midwifery (helping women during childbirth) a year later. In 1869, she went back to Stockholm to learn even more about how the human body works, studying anatomy and physiology.
In 1870, Rosina was finally allowed to attend some lectures at the University of Helsinki. Then, in 1871, she received special permission to study medicine at the university. She worked hard and earned her medical degree in 1878. This made her the first woman doctor not only in Finland but also in all the Nordic countries!
Her Medical Career
Helping Women and Children
When Rosina Heikel first started practicing, she had a special license. This meant she could only treat women and children. In 1878, she worked in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The next year, in 1879, she moved to Vaasa to focus on women's and children's health.
It took some time, but in 1884, she was finally able to become a full member of the Finnish Medical Society. In 1883, a new job was created just for her in Helsinki: the city's gynaecologist. This role was later changed in 1889 to include being a paediatrician (a children's doctor) as well. Rosina stayed in this important role until 1901. She also had her own private doctor's office in Helsinki until 1906.
Fighting for Equality
A Champion for Women's Rights
Besides her work as a doctor, Rosina Heikel was very active in the movement for women's rights. She was a strong supporter of the feminist group called Naisasialiitto Unioni. She believed deeply that women should have equal opportunities in education. She even helped start Konkordia-liitto, an organization for women who had studied at university.
In 1892, she gave a speech to the Naisasialiitto Unioni. In her speech, she spoke about the importance of girls and boys having the same chances for education.
Supporting Children's Health
Rosina also cared a lot about children. She managed a workhouse for children and was a strong voice for improving children's health, especially in the countryside areas of Finland.
Later Life
Rosina Heikel passed away on December 13, 1929, in Helsinki. She is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.
See also
In Spanish: Rosina Heikel para niños
