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Motion · S5M-16794 · 4 Apr 2019

The Edinburgh Seven Honoured With their Degrees

Lodged by Kezia Dugdale Standard Motion 20 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes that the University of Edinburgh is conferring honorary posthumous MBChB degrees on Mary Anderson, Emily Bovell, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans, Sophia Jex-Blake, Edith Pechey and Isabel Thorne, who were known as the Edinburgh Seven; acknowledges that, although they were the first female medical students admitted to a UK university when they enrolled in 1869, the seven faced a great deal of resistance from their male counterparts and were ultimately prevented from graduating and qualifying as doctors; notes that their campaign against this treatment gained national attention and many supporters, including Charles Darwin, and led to legislation in 1876 to ensure that women could study and graduate in medicine at university; welcomes this news that, after 150 years, the seven are finally being awarded their degrees and are being recognised for helping to break down barriers, and considers them pioneers for the feminists who followed them in demanding equality and women's rightful, equal, place in the world.
 
 

Supporters (20)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.