Dorothea dix quotes biography video
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Dorothea Dix
Portrait of Dorothea Dixhttps://www.nps.gov/people/dorothea-dix.htm?utm_source=person&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more“Someone has to stand up and speak for the freedoms of the little guy” (“Christopher Monckton Quotes.”). Christopher Monckton perfectly depicts the actions Dix took to help those who were seen as sexuellt oförmögen and insane in gemenskap. Dorothea Dix was an American reformer who traveled throughout amerika and abroad to serve as a voice for the mentally ill in hospitals, jails, and asylums (“Dorothea Lynde Dix.”). She was prompted to begin a journey of reform after a Sunday school trip to the East Cambridge Jail (Parry). There she witnessed the horrible, brutal conditions that the mentally ill had to face in their everyday lives. During the Civil War, she temporarily stopped her reforms for the mentally ill to serve as a nurse after being appointed as föreståndare of the Nursing Corps (“Dix’s war.”). Dix was awarded the “Thanks of Congres
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Female Nurses During the Civil War
On September 6, 1862, Harper’s Weekly published a drawing titled “The Influence of Women”. In the engraving, women fulfill many important roles for the war effort, from sewing shirts and knitting socks as part of the sanitary commission, to washing clothing for soldiers as camp aides, as well as acting as “sisters of charity” ministering to soldiers in the field hospitals and helping wounded soldiers write letters back home. Many of these women depict efforts to heal and care for soldiers. The Harper’s Weekly picture shows the culmination of women’s efforts to take a more active and public role in the medical field serving as nurses treating wounded soldiers during the Civil War.
Prior to the Civil War, there were very few female nurses who publicly practiced medicine. Privately women often took care of sick family members within the home, but most doctors were men and did not routinely use the help of nurses. One of the
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Dorothea Dix
By Arlisha R. Norwood, NWHM Fellow | 2017
Dorothea Dix was an early 19th century activist who drastically changed the medical field during her lifetime. She championed causes for both the mentally ill and indigenous populations. By doing this work, she openly challenged 19th century notions of reform and illness. Additionally, Dix helped recruit nurses for the Union army during the Civil War. As a result, she transformed the field of nursing.
Dix was born in Hampden, Maine in 1802. Little is known about her childhood. However, historians believe that her parents suffered from alcoholism and her father was abusive. Due to this abuse at a young age she moved to Boston to stay with her grandmother. Dix attended school in Boston and tutored children. She became ill several times and was forced to stop teaching. During one of her bouts of illness her physicians suggested she spend time in Europe. While visiting overseas, Dix met with groups of reformers inte