Debating Women’s Medical Education In Late 19th Century Through Vernacular Newspapers In Colonial United Province

Author(s)	Ms. Sakshi Pandey
Country	India
Abstract	This paper explores the evolving discourse on women’s medical education in the late 19th century through the lens of vernacular newspapers in colonial United Provinces. As colonial reforms—particularly under the Countess of Dufferin’s Fund—sought to institutionalize female medical training, local newspapers became vital platforms for public debate. While many editorials supported the initiative as a necessary response to the healthcare needs of purdah-observing women, others raised concerns about missionary influence, language barriers in instruction, inadequate training, and social resistance to co-education and boarding requirements. Through these varied perspectives, the paper reveals how vernacular newspapers not only mirrored societal tensions around gender, modernity, and colonial intervention, but also actively shaped public opinion on women’s participation in medicine. The study underscores the role of regional media in mediating between state-driven policies and indigenous socio-cultural expectations, making it a crucial space for negotiating women’s education and empowerment in colonial India.
Keywords	women, education, healthcare, United Province, vernacular newspaper
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-16
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.51091
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9tz46

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