The lives of women doctors in Britain, 1901-1939

Journal article

This article examines the domestic lives of women doctors in Britain between 1901 and 1939. It offers a new perspective on the experiences of early professional women, about which we know little. My study examines 637 women, drawing primarily on individual data from the census and the 1939 Household Register. The article demonstrates that many of these women received vital support from relatives and friends throughout their careers. The attitudes of their fathers and husbands indicate that some middle-class men strongly encouraged women’s professional work. Nevertheless, women doctors faced sex discrimination within and beyond their profession. In this context, they established households designed to support their careers. These provide a valuable insight into the strategies that women professionals used to develop their careers while shouldering caring responsibilities, and into the relationships that helped women to expand their opportunities.

Authors: Todd, S

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Journal: Social History
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-10
• EISSN: 1470-1200
• ISSN: 0307-1022
• Language: English
• Keywords: women; doctors; professional; feminism; household; family; middle class; Scotland; England