1) Her Biography
Dorothea Erxleben was born on 13 November 1715 in Quedlinburg, a town in the Holy Roman Empire, now part of modern-day Germany. She grew up in a household that valued education, particularly due to the influence of her father, Christian Polycarp Leporin, a progressive-minded physician. Recognising his daughter’s intelligence and curiosity, he took the unusual step of educating her alongside her brothers in the sciences, including Latin and medical texts, at a time when such subjects were deemed unsuitable for women. This early encouragement laid the foundation for her later achievements.
Despite the social restrictions placed upon women during the early 18th century, Erxleben remained determined to pursue her studies. She became well-versed in the medical knowledge of the time and assisted her father with his practice. Her ambitions, however, were met with significant opposition. Formal medical education was barred to women in Germany, and when Erxleben attempted to secure a university position, she faced scepticism and legal resistance from the academic establishment. Nonetheless, she continued to treat patients informally, earning a reputation for competence.
Her determination caught the attention of King Frederick the Great of Prussia, who issued a royal decree allowing her to study and eventually take her medical examination. This extraordinary royal intervention was a turning point, enabling Erxleben to enrol at the University of Halle. In 1754, she made history by becoming the first woman in Germany to earn a doctorate in medicine. Her dissertation, which focused on the causes of slow recovery in illnesses, reflected both her medical insight and her commitment to challenging gender-based limitations in the field.
Erxleben’s achievement was not merely symbolic. Following her graduation, she began practising medicine officially in Quedlinburg, offering services particularly to poor women who otherwise lacked access to healthcare. Her dual role as a physician and a role model for aspiring women in medicine had a lasting impact on her community. She remained deeply engaged in the professional and ethical debates surrounding medicine, and her voice carried weight despite the prejudices of her time.
Balancing her medical career with domestic responsibilities, she also managed to raise a family. She married Johann Christian Erxleben, a widowed clergyman, and together they had several children. One of her sons, Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben, would later become a well-known naturalist and physician himself, continuing the family’s intellectual legacy. Dorothea’s life thus represented a rare blend of professional accomplishment and familial commitment, defying contemporary norms on multiple fronts.
Throughout her career, Erxleben remained vocal about the injustices faced by women in education and medicine. Her earlier treatise, Gründliche Untersuchung der Ursachen, written in 1742, powerfully argued for women’s right to academic learning, criticising the societal structures that impeded their advancement. This text became a cornerstone of early feminist thought in Germany, laying intellectual groundwork for future reformers.
Dorothea Erxleben died on 13 June 1762 at the age of 46, leaving behind a legacy not just of medical service but of resilience and pioneering advocacy. Her contributions extended far beyond her own achievements; they helped to challenge entrenched views about gender and intellect in Enlightenment-era Europe. Though she lived in a deeply patriarchal society, her example offered inspiration to generations of women who would later fight for their place in the sciences and academia.
Today, Erxleben is remembered as a trailblazer in both medicine and women’s rights. Her name is commemorated in institutions, memorials, and scholarly studies, reminding us that intellectual perseverance can overcome even the most rigid societal barriers. Her biography is not only a story of personal success, but a powerful chapter in the history of women’s struggle for equality in education and professional life.
2) Main Works
Gründliche Untersuchung der Ursachen, die das weibliche Geschlecht vom Studieren abhalten (1742) – Thorough Investigation of the Causes Preventing the Female Sex from Studying
This treatise is Erxleben’s most famous work and a foundational text in early feminist literature. Written more than a decade before she earned her medical degree, the treatise argues passionately and logically against the societal and institutional barriers that prevent women from pursuing education. Drawing from Enlightenment ideals, Erxleben critiques the belief that women were naturally less intelligent or rational than men. She highlights how domestic responsibilities, lack of access to schools, and deeply entrenched prejudices suppress women’s intellectual development. Her arguments prefigure later feminist critiques and remain historically significant as a challenge to 18th-century gender roles.
Academische Abhandlung von der gar zu geschwinden und angenehmen, aber deswegen öftern unvollständigen Cur der Krankheiten (1754) – Academic Dissertation on the Too Rapid and Pleasant, but Therefore Often Incomplete, Cure of Illnesses
This medical dissertation was written and defended as part of her doctoral examination at the University of Halle. In it, Erxleben critiques the common medical practice of hastily treating symptoms without addressing underlying causes. She argues that quick cures, while appealing to patients and sometimes encouraged by physicians seeking popularity, often fail to resolve illnesses fully and can lead to long-term harm. The work demonstrates her medical acumen, her ethical concern for patients, and her critical approach to prevailing medical methods. It was highly regarded by her academic examiners and allowed her to officially practise medicine.
Medical Case Notes and Local Writings (unpublished or partially lost)
Although not formally published, Erxleben is believed to have maintained detailed records of her medical practice in Quedlinburg. These writings likely included case studies, treatment observations, and reflections on clinical practice. While few of these materials have survived or been systematically archived, references to them appear in later historical accounts. They provide evidence of her commitment to empirical observation and patient care, and they add depth to her reputation as a practitioner rather than just a theorist.
Letters and Correspondence (fragments)
Several letters authored by Erxleben have been preserved in private and academic collections. These pieces of correspondence offer insight into her personal and intellectual life. Some letters address medical colleagues, while others engage in wider philosophical and social reflections. Though not formally published in her lifetime, they have since been included in anthologies of early women’s writing. They reinforce her image as a thoughtful and determined voice in a male-dominated world.
3) Main Themes
Gender and Access to Education
One of the most prominent themes in Erxleben’s writing is the critique of gender-based exclusion from academic life. In her 1742 treatise, she argues forcefully that women possess the same intellectual capacities as men and should therefore be granted equal access to education. She exposes the structural and cultural obstacles—such as domestic expectations, lack of institutional support, and patriarchal prejudice—that prevent women from studying. This theme not only challenges the norms of her era but also anticipates later feminist calls for educational reform.
The Ethical Responsibilities of Physicians
In her medical dissertation, Erxleben emphasises the importance of ethical conduct in medical practice. She criticises physicians who prioritise quick and superficially pleasing treatments over thorough and lasting cures. This theme reflects her commitment to patient welfare and scientific integrity. Erxleben insists that medicine must serve the long-term health of the patient, even if it means slower or more complex treatments, and that physicians have a duty to resist pressure from public expectations or personal vanity.
Critique of Superficial Medical Practices
Closely linked to her ethical concerns is Erxleben’s critical view of medical shortcuts. She argues that many physicians aim to deliver fast results to impress patients, often leading to incomplete cures and future complications. This theme highlights her belief in methodical, evidence-based medicine. It also shows her willingness to confront established medical trends and propose improvements, drawing on both her empirical observation and philosophical reasoning.
Enlightenment Rationalism and Human Potential
Erxleben’s works are grounded in Enlightenment ideals, particularly the belief in human reason and the potential for intellectual self-improvement. She sees no rational basis for excluding women from scholarly pursuits and frames her arguments with logical precision and appeals to universal human capacities. This theme underscores her deep engagement with the philosophical climate of her time and her belief that reason should override tradition and prejudice.
Female Intellectual Capability
A recurring assertion in her writing is the notion that women are equally capable of rigorous thought, scientific reasoning, and scholarly achievement. She challenges the long-standing stereotype of female intellectual inferiority, using her own learning and credentials as living evidence to the contrary. This theme becomes a cornerstone of her feminist legacy and directly supports her argument for educational access and professional inclusion.
Balance Between Domestic and Professional Life
Though not extensively elaborated in her published works, this theme is implicit in Erxleben’s life and expressed in parts of her correspondence. She acknowledges the challenges faced by women who are expected to manage households while also pursuing scholarly or professional careers. Her ability to balance these roles in her own life adds a practical dimension to her intellectual arguments and presents a model of coexistence rather than conflict between domesticity and academia.
Social Reform and Intellectual Justice
Erxleben’s writings do not merely advocate for individual advancement but also argue for broader societal change. She views the exclusion of women from education as a social injustice with far-reaching consequences. Her call for reform is grounded in a vision of a more just, rational, and inclusive society—one in which individuals are judged by their abilities rather than their gender.
Empirical Observation in Medicine
Reflecting her scientific training, Erxleben emphasises the role of careful observation and experience in medical diagnosis and treatment. She places trust in practical evidence over blind adherence to outdated theory. This theme positions her within the empiricist tradition and demonstrates her engagement with the medical discourse of her time, advocating for thoughtful, patient-focused approaches to healing.
4) Erxleben as a Scientist
Dorothea Erxleben’s role as a scientist is significant not only because she was the first woman in Germany to earn a medical doctorate, but also because she engaged seriously with the scientific discourse of her time. Her scientific thought was grounded in empirical observation and rational analysis, key characteristics of Enlightenment-era methodology. Trained informally by her father and later formally examined at the University of Halle, Erxleben demonstrated both practical medical competence and theoretical insight. She approached science as a means of improving human life, and her work reflects a strong commitment to understanding and addressing illness at its root causes.
Her medical dissertation reveals her engagement with clinical method and therapeutic judgement. In this work, Erxleben critiques the widespread practice of prioritising quick symptom relief over long-term recovery. She challenges what she saw as a trend of superficial medical care, urging her fellow physicians to take a more methodical and cautious approach. This position aligned her with broader scientific currents that favoured empirical study and careful experimentation over inherited dogma. By questioning prevalent methods, she showed a capacity for critical evaluation that is central to scientific thinking.
Erxleben’s understanding of physiology and pathology, though shaped by the medical knowledge available at the time, reflects her dedication to medical inquiry. Her clinical practice in Quedlinburg was rooted in observation, and she tailored her treatments to the specific conditions of her patients. This emphasis on individualised care, informed by scientific learning, helped to position her as a respected local practitioner. While she did not publish laboratory-based research or conduct experiments in the modern sense, her work demonstrated a keen application of scientific reasoning within the context of applied medicine.
One of the hallmarks of her scientific approach was the integration of ethical and rational dimensions. She believed that a good physician must be both morally conscientious and intellectually rigorous. In her view, science was not separate from virtue—it required honesty, diligence, and a commitment to truth. This moral-scientific integration is particularly evident in her critiques of showy or hasty cures, which she viewed as compromising the scientific integrity of the profession for the sake of popularity or profit.
Though she did not contribute to scientific innovation in the sense of inventing new techniques or discovering new compounds, Erxleben’s influence was institutional and philosophical. Her academic journey itself served as a challenge to the rigid barriers that excluded women from scientific education. By entering and succeeding within a university environment, she made it possible for others to imagine a more inclusive scientific community. Her work, therefore, advanced the scientific enterprise not just through medical knowledge but through the transformation of its boundaries.
Erxleben was also deeply invested in the dissemination of knowledge. She believed education was not the privilege of a few, but a right and responsibility that should be extended to women as well. Her 1742 treatise, though primarily a feminist document, also speaks to the value she placed on scholarly training and intellectual cultivation. In this sense, she advocated for a broader conception of science—one that welcomed new participants and prioritised the public good over prestige or exclusivity.
In the broader context of German scientific development, Erxleben stands out as a symbol of resistance to exclusion and as a voice of rational critique. Her career illustrates how scientific engagement can take multiple forms, including clinical practice, ethical reflection, and institutional challenge. While her contributions were limited by the era’s gender restrictions, her intellectual legacy continues to be recognised as an early step in expanding both the content and the community of science.
5) Her Legacy
Dorothea Erxleben’s legacy is multifaceted, straddling the domains of medicine, education, gender equality, and Enlightenment thought. As the first woman in Germany to receive a medical doctorate, she broke a deeply entrenched social and institutional barrier, becoming a symbol of what women could achieve when granted access to formal education. Her success served as both an individual triumph and a broader cultural provocation, challenging the notion that academic and scientific pursuits were the sole province of men. Her story thus became a rallying point for future generations of women aspiring to enter the learned professions.
In the years following her death, Erxleben’s name continued to surface in discussions about the rights of women to education and professional careers. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, when movements for women’s suffrage and access to universities gained momentum across Europe, she was frequently invoked as a historical example of women’s intellectual capacity. Feminist thinkers and educators looked to her life and writings as proof that the exclusion of women from scholarly pursuits had no basis in reason or ability. Her 1742 treatise, in particular, was rediscovered and republished, providing historical depth to arguments for reform.
In the field of medicine, Erxleben remains an important figure in the history of female physicians. Her practice in Quedlinburg not only demonstrated her professional competence but also modelled a more humane and patient-centred approach to care. She is often remembered not just as a trailblazer, but as someone who embodied the ethical responsibilities of medical practitioners. For modern medical historians, she provides a rare example of a woman who successfully combined Enlightenment rationalism with clinical empathy at a time when both traits were primarily associated with male doctors.
Several institutions and awards in Germany have been named after her, recognising her contributions and preserving her memory. Medical schools, research grants, and public health initiatives bear her name, signalling her continuing relevance. Her legacy is also commemorated in physical monuments and public spaces; for instance, a statue stands in her hometown of Quedlinburg, honouring her pioneering role. These gestures are more than symbolic—they represent a growing acknowledgement of women’s historical exclusion from intellectual and professional life, and the importance of figures like Erxleben in redressing that history.
Her impact also extends into educational philosophy. By insisting that women had a natural right to learn and think freely, Erxleben helped lay the groundwork for a more inclusive vision of education. Her belief in the transformative power of learning remains a guiding principle in debates over equal access to knowledge. The continued study of her life and works in university curricula reflects the broader recognition that the history of science and philosophy must be told with greater attention to women’s contributions.
Modern feminist scholars often place Erxleben within a wider European context of early women intellectuals, alongside figures like Laura Bassi in Italy and Margaret Cavendish in England. Though their paths were different, they all navigated restrictive societies to claim space within the academic and scientific worlds. In this lineage, Erxleben’s legacy is international in its significance, contributing to a broader understanding of how women shaped intellectual culture long before their formal inclusion was recognised.
Perhaps most enduringly, Dorothea Erxleben’s life story challenges the assumption that barriers based on gender are insurmountable. Her determination, intellect, and ethical commitment continue to inspire those who seek to expand access to education, confront institutional bias, and pursue science not only for prestige, but for the benefit of society. Her legacy is not only about what she achieved, but about the countless others she empowered to follow in her footsteps.