Colonial Medicine Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Colonial Medicine - Assignment Example Money had to be made, and the men, especially, were determined to make themselves and their families financially free. Women, on the other hand, were in charge of caring for the children. Almost every two years, a new child would be born to a woman, making her be responsible for caring for children pretty much her entire adult life. Women even began taking care of the children before the adult years. For instance, when Rebecca Lukens came home from the boarding school that she attended to get a top-of-the-line education, she was home caring for her six younger siblings at sixteen years of age. While some were owners of large farms and plantations, and while there were others who tended to family duties, others went to school to get an education on a wide variety of things, such as apprenticeships and obtaining medical degrees (Gustaitis). According to the article titled, â€Å"Iron Woman† one could draw the conclusion that men primarily were doctors. Women primarily were nurses, and they worked with midwifery, helping other women deliver their children. For instance, the husband of Rebecca Lukens, Charles Lloyd Lukens, studied to become a physician and practiced for quite some time before he decided that he’d go into the iron business along with Rebecca’s father (Gustaitis). During those times, women did not primarily work, as their duties were primarily in the home. However, when their husbands died, leaving them widows, these women were able to inherit all of the estate, the business, and any other financial means that their husbands left behind. Not to mention, they possessed legal rights (Gustaitis). In 1840, Rebecca was the sole owner of her business, and she had done well enough that she be became a very successful CEO. Her iron business thrived until her death, and it even is thriving today. As a matter of fact, in the year 1996, Rebecca was entered into the business hall of fame (Gustaitis). This