Overview

""Valiant and timely .... reintroduces its subject as a hero for this moment."" ―The New York Times How Victorian male doctors used false science to argue that women were unfit for anything but motherhood--and the brilliant doctor who defied them After Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school, more women demanded a chance to study medicine. Barred entrance to universities like Harvard, women built their own first-rate medical schools and hospitals. Their success spurred a chilling backlash from elite, white male physicians who were obsessed with eugenics and the propagation of the white race. Distorting Darwin's evolution theory, these haughty physicians proclaimed in bestselling books that women should never be allowed to attend college or enter a profession because their menstrual cycles made them perpetually sick. Motherhood was their constitution and duty. Into the midst of this turmoil marched tiny, dynamic Mary Putnam Jacobi, daughter of New York publisher George Palmer Putnam and the first woman to be accepted into the world-renowned Sorbonne medical school in Paris. As one of the best-educated doctors in the world, she returned to New York for the fight of her life. Aided by other prominent women physicians and suffragists, Jacobi conducted the first-ever data-backed, scientific research on women's reproductive biology. The results of her studies shook the foundations of medical science and higher education. Full of larger than life characters and cinematically written, The Cure for Women documents the birth of a sexist science still haunting us today as the fight for control of women's bodies and lives continues.

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9781250284457

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Reviews

"Praise for The Cure for Women ""A lively, engaging portrait of one of the most influential women in Victorian medicine. Reeder artfully brings to life the fascinating story of Mary Putnam Jacobi, a visionary physician and ardent feminist whose ambition and perseverance amid ceaseless sexism are truly inspiring. Not only did Jacobi use scientific research to unequivocally refute the sexist claims of male doctors about female inferiority, but she also helped transform medicine into a science-based pursuit. A worthy, captivating subject indeed."" --Olivia Campbell, author Women in White Coats ""A fascinating history of the women who charged down medicine's 'forbidden path, ' fighting not only for better care and opportunities for women, but so much more."" --Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World ""I learned so much. Reeder intricately weaves together the detailed stories of suffrage, medicine, science, and courage, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. This insightful historical account not only chronicles the life of an exceptional woman but also delves deep into the societal transformations and debates of the time. With its significant implications for the ongoing struggle for women's rights, The Cure for Women serves as a poignant reminder that great strides in the fight for gender equality were made by real women whose activism changed the world."" --Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, Clinical Professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock"

"""A lively, engaging portrait of one of the most influential women in Victorian medicine. Reeder artfully brings to life the fascinating story of Mary Putnam Jacobi, a visionary physician and ardent feminist whose ambition and perseverance amid ceaseless sexism are truly inspiring. Not only did Jacobi use scientific research to unequivocally refute the sexist claims of male doctors about female inferiority, but she also helped transform medicine into a science-based pursuit. A worthy, captivating subject indeed."" --Olivia Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats ""Powerful, suspenseful, cinematic. Lydia Reeder has a talent for uncovering little-known heroes from the past and making their stories compulsively readable."" --Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Facemaker ""A fascinating history of the women who charged down medicine's 'forbidden path, ' fighting not only for better care and opportunities for women, but so much more."" --Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World ""I learned so much. Reeder intricately weaves together the detailed stories of suffrage, medicine, science, and courage, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. This insightful historical account not only chronicles the life of an exceptional woman but also delves deep into the societal transformations and debates of the time. With its significant implications for the ongoing struggle for women's rights, The Cure for Women serves as a poignant reminder that great strides in the fight for gender equality were made by real women whose activism changed the world."" --Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, Clinical Professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock ""The Cure for Women reads like it was stolen from the silver screen: the pace is relentless, the writing beautiful, and the narrative captivating. Through the eyes of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, we see how evidence-based medicine has always driven inclusivity and pushed away ignorance. Lydia Reeder's writing is as essential as basic biology, and her book gives us needed perspective on the power of activism and organization in medicine."" --Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls and Wise Gals ""A highly readable account of a truly ground-breaking woman and her pioneering work. The book is also a great primer for those wishing to understand the misogynistic ""medical"" theories of the nineteenth century that attempted to keep women like Elizabeth Packard down - and which still impact our lives today."" --Kate Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Radium Girls and The Woman They Could Not Silence ""Reminds us of the state of unfreedom and constraint of women just 150 years ago, with its implicit warning not to take our rights for granted."" --Victoria Sweet, MD, author of Slow Medicine ""Reeder's Cure for Women is both a riveting and chilling story. The history of gynecology under men is barely distinguishable from quackery, revealing rampant abuse off the female body and psyche disguised as care. Women's very anatomy was used against them as a reason that they could not possibly become doctors themselves--or even use their brains at all. When I got to the part where a male gynecologist posited that going to medical school lead women to have undeveloped ovaries, I appreciated more than ever what Mary Putnam had to endure, and how much I appreciated her perseverance. As we live in a time of the increasing trivialization of the health--and pain-- of women, Reeder has found a heroine for our age."" --Catherine Prendergast, author of The Gilded Edge ""In The Cure for Women, we hear the vivid cogent voices of brave and dedicated 19th century women who helped put science and evidence into medical practice, and who speak to us clearly across the years about how to make change happen."" --Perri Klass, MD, Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics at NYU, author of The Best Medicine: How Science and Public Health Gave Children a Future ""Through brilliant and creative prose, Lydia Reeder brings to life the world of Mary Putnam Jacobi and other pioneering women who fought to be treated as equals in the American medical community, in turn revealing how the sexism they faced impacted doctors and patients alike. It's a story that's simultaneously enraging and inspiring."" --Catherine McNeur, author of Mischievous Creatures"

"Praise for The Cure for Women ""A lively, engaging portrait of one of the most influential women in Victorian medicine. Reeder artfully brings to life the fascinating story of Mary Putnam Jacobi, a visionary physician and ardent feminist whose ambition and perseverance amid ceaseless sexism are truly inspiring. Not only did Jacobi use scientific research to unequivocally refute the sexist claims of male doctors about female inferiority, but she also helped transform medicine into a science-based pursuit. A worthy, captivating subject indeed."" --Olivia Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats ""A fascinating history of the women who charged down medicine's 'forbidden path, ' fighting not only for better care and opportunities for women, but so much more."" --Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World ""I learned so much. Reeder intricately weaves together the detailed stories of suffrage, medicine, science, and courage, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. This insightful historical account not only chronicles the life of an exceptional woman but also delves deep into the societal transformations and debates of the time. With its significant implications for the ongoing struggle for women's rights, The Cure for Women serves as a poignant reminder that great strides in the fight for gender equality were made by real women whose activism changed the world."" --Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, Clinical Professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock"

"""A lively, engaging portrait of one of the most influential women in Victorian medicine. Reeder artfully brings to life the fascinating story of Mary Putnam Jacobi, a visionary physician and ardent feminist whose ambition and perseverance amid ceaseless sexism are truly inspiring. Not only did Jacobi use scientific research to unequivocally refute the sexist claims of male doctors about female inferiority, but she also helped transform medicine into a science-based pursuit. A worthy, captivating subject indeed."" --Olivia Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats ""Powerful, suspenseful, cinematic. Lydia Reeder has a talent for uncovering little-known heroes from the past and making their stories compulsively readable."" --Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Facemaker ""A fascinating history of the women who charged down medicine's 'forbidden path, ' fighting not only for better care and opportunities for women, but so much more."" --Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World ""I learned so much. Reeder intricately weaves together the detailed stories of suffrage, medicine, science, and courage, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. This insightful historical account not only chronicles the life of an exceptional woman but also delves deep into the societal transformations and debates of the time. With its significant implications for the ongoing struggle for women's rights, The Cure for Women serves as a poignant reminder that great strides in the fight for gender equality were made by real women whose activism changed the world."" --Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, Clinical Professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock ""The Cure for Women reads like it was stolen from the silver screen: the pace is relentless, the writing beautiful, and the narrative captivating. Through the eyes of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, we see how evidence-based medicine has always driven inclusivity and pushed away ignorance. Lydia Reeder's writing is as essential as basic biology, and her book gives us needed perspective on the power of activism and organization in medicine."" --Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls and Wise Gals ""A highly readable account of a truly ground-breaking woman and her pioneering work. The book is also a great primer for those wishing to understand the misogynistic ""medical"" theories of the nineteenth century that attempted to keep women like Elizabeth Packard down - and which still impact our lives today."" --Kate Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Radium Girls and The Woman They Could Not Silence ""Reminds us of the state of unfreedom and constraint of women just 150 years ago, with its implicit warning not to take our rights for granted."" --Victoria Sweet, MD, author of Slow Medicine ""Reeder's Cure for Women is both a riveting and chilling story. The history of gynecology under men is barely distinguishable from quackery, revealing rampant abuse off the female body and psyche disguised as care. Women's very anatomy was used against them as a reason that they could not possibly become doctors themselves--or even use their brains at all. When I got to the part where a male gynecologist posited that going to medical school lead women to have undeveloped ovaries, I appreciated more than ever what Mary Putnam had to endure, and how much I appreciated her perseverance. As we live in a time of the increasing trivialization of the health--and pain-- of women, Reeder has found a heroine for our age."" --Catherine Prendergast, author of The Gilded Edge ""In The Cure for Women, we hear the vivid cogent voices of brave and dedicated 19th century women who helped put science and evidence into medical practice, and who speak to us clearly across the years about how to make change happen."" --Perri Klass, MD, Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics at NYU, author of The Best Medicine: How Science and Public Health Gave Children a Future"

"Praise for The Cure for Women ""A lively, engaging portrait of one of the most influential women in Victorian medicine. Reeder artfully brings to life the fascinating story of Mary Putnam Jacobi, a visionary physician and ardent feminist whose ambition and perseverance amid ceaseless sexism are truly inspiring. Not only did Jacobi use scientific research to unequivocally refute the sexist claims of male doctors about female inferiority, but she also helped transform medicine into a science-based pursuit. A worthy, captivating subject indeed."" --Olivia Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats ""Powerful, suspenseful, cinematic. Lydia Reeder has a talent for uncovering little-known heroes from the past and making their stories compulsively readable."" --Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Facemaker ""A fascinating history of the women who charged down medicine's 'forbidden path, ' fighting not only for better care and opportunities for women, but so much more."" --Rachel Swaby, author of Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World ""I learned so much. Reeder intricately weaves together the detailed stories of suffrage, medicine, science, and courage, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. This insightful historical account not only chronicles the life of an exceptional woman but also delves deep into the societal transformations and debates of the time. With its significant implications for the ongoing struggle for women's rights, The Cure for Women serves as a poignant reminder that great strides in the fight for gender equality were made by real women whose activism changed the world."" --Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, Clinical Professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock ""The Cure for Women reads like it was stolen from the silver screen: the pace is relentless, the writing beautiful, and the narrative captivating. Through the eyes of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, we see how evidence-based medicine has always driven inclusivity and pushed away ignorance. Lydia Reeder's writing is as essential as basic biology, and her book gives us needed perspective on the power of activism and organization in medicine."" --Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls and Wise Gals ""A highly readable account of a truly ground-breaking woman and her pioneering work. The book is also a great primer for those wishing to understand the misogynistic ""medical"" theories of the nineteenth century that attempted to keep women like Elizabeth Packard down - and which still impact our lives today."" --Kate Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Radium Girls and The Woman They Could Not Silence ""Reminds us of the state of unfreedom and constraint of women just 150 years ago, with its implicit warning not to take our rights for granted."" --Victoria Sweet, MD, author of Slow Medicine"

Author Information

LYDIA REEDER's research and writing brings to light the stories of little-known or forgotten pioneers in their professions and daily lives. Her first book, Dust Bowl Girls, was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award and the WILLA literary Award, and won the For the Love of the Game award from the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. A regional bestseller in Oklahoma and Colorado, it was named as a 2017 top nonfiction book by Amazon, Bustle, Romper, and Bookbub, and optioned for film five times. A native of Oklahoma, Lydia now lives in Denver, CO.

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