First Female Doctor in Sweden

Poster with Karolina Widerström, a suffrage fighter and Sweden's first female doctor.

Karolina trained as a doctor in the 1870s at the Karolinska Institute, when women had just gained the right to study at universities in Sweden.

After receiving his ID, Widerström opened his own practice in Stockholm, first on Bryggargatan and later on Fleminggatan. She came to specialize in women's and children's health, and her work quickly became respected in medical circles, although it also upset many.

Sexual health and women's bodies had previously been taboo to talk about out loud. When Karolina opened her medical practice in 1889, she noticed that many women simply knew too little about how their bodies worked.

Her articles on menstruation and hygiene attracted attention. The newspaper Idun which had published her article "About menstruation and its hygiene" in 1896, even apologized to his readers for having upset so many over the subject.

Widerström became a pioneer in preventive medicine and women's health and worked actively to improve conditions for women and children.

In addition to her medical work, Karolina Widerström was also a committed social activist. She became involved in issues such as sexual politics, prostitution, and the conditions of mothers. Above all, she is known for having fought for universal suffrage together with her friend Elin Wägner, an issue she was extremely committed to.

Karolina Widerström's efforts contributed to opening up opportunities for women in medicine and other fields. Her legacy lives on today and continues to inspire generations to come.

Photographer: Unknown | Created: 1906. 

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