Wonder Woman of the Week: Trolula of Salerno

One of the major issues in American feminism today is that male politicians enact laws regarding women’s health who would likely fail a high-school level exam about the female anatomy. But male politicians clueless about human sexual dimorphism is hardly unique to the United States and is definitely not unique to the 21st Century. Thanks to this week’s spotlight, there is an entire field of medicine dedicated to women’s reproductive health and without her, even male doctors would be clueless about half the populations’ anatomy. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Trotula of Salerno; the founder of gynecology.

During the 11th Century; the city of Salerno in the Italian Peninsula was the center of medical education in Europe. Its medical schools enrolled students from all over the continent, and its hospitals received praise from Europe, Africa, and Asia. But during this time, it was essentially impossible for women to get an education- let alone at one of the best medical schools in the world. [1]

Trotula of Salerno was no ordinary woman however. She managed to maneuver her way through the man’s world of Italian medicine to become a physician and professor at the Medical School in Salerno- the first medical school in the world and most prestigious in Europe. Trotula focused her practice on the medical needs of women, specializing in women’s diseases and overall health. She became well-known for her skill at diagnosing female medical issues ranging from complications during pregnancy to feminine hygiene. She advocated for the use of opiates during childbirth during a time when religious dogma stated pain from childbirth was punishment for an ancient mythological story. [2]

Trotula of Salerno also published her own books on women’s health including Passionibus Mulierum Curandorum (The Diseases of Women) and Ornatu Mulierum written about skin diseases. Trotula’s practice was so far ahead of its time, that she still receives praise from contemporary physicians. But just like with women in science today, men in Trotula’s time also tried to steal her work and take credit for her discoveries. Translators and copiers (the latter was still done by individuals by hand one copy at a time) purposely miswrote Trotula’s name to accredit it to a man (who didn’t exist) and her publications were (wrongfully) cited as rediscoveries of Greco-Roman physicians from before the Common Era. [3]

The genius of Trotula of Salerno has been the subject of both praise and controversy. While men in her time often tried to undermine her successes, Trotula managed to achieve an education, earn her place as a physician, and found an entire field of medicine critical to modern practice. Her work in the fields of women’s health and hygiene, her publications on the diseases of women and skin disorders helped educate a continent undergoing a dark age. So the next time you hear a man reveal how ignorant he is about women’s health, throw him a copy of Passionibus Mulierum Curandorum. It’s what Trotula did.

Bellucci, Enrica. “Trotula of Salerno.” Women’s History. King’s College; 2005. Web. 31 August 2016.

“Trotula.” Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art. Brooklyn Museum; nd. Web. 31 August 2016.

Drew, Jennifer. “Were there any female scientists before the 18th century and development of scientific study?” Early Female Scientists. Women’s History Month; October 2010. Web. 31 August 2016.