Opening the Door: Why Homeopathy Welcomed Women First - Body of Harmony

Opening the Door: Why Homeopathy Welcomed Women First

by: Payam Hakimi
September 2025
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In the mid-19th century, medicine was being remade. Homeopathy, then the first national physician organization in the U.S. (founded 1844), was growing quickly in cities and within households—especially among mothers who saw gentler care for children as both safer and more humane. In 1869 the AIH voted to admit women physicians to membership, formalizing an openness that had already taken root in homeopathic clinics, colleges, and community hospitals. theaahp.org

The American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) opened its doors to women early—in 1869. The American Medical Association’s (AMA) first woman member arrived seven years later, in 1876 (Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson)

Why homeopathy moved early:

A patient base of mothers. Homeopathy’s strong reputation in childhood illness built trust with women, who then advocated, funded, and staffed homeopathic hospitals and initiatives. theaahp.org
Women’s colleges in the homeopathic orbit. Institutions like New York Medical College and Hospital for Women (founded 1863 by Clemence S. Lozier) offered women medical training tied to homeopathic therapeutics when most mainstream schools barred them. nymc.eduwritlarge.ctl.columbia.edu
A reform mindset. The homeopathic movement intersected with broader social reforms (education, suffrage, temperance). Women found real professional pathways here—by 1910, women made up notable shares of homeopathic organizations (e.g., IHA 25%, AIH 12%, vs. ~16% in the profession overall). National Center for Homeopathy (NCH)

Why the AMA Lagged

The AMA didn’t pass a blanket ban on women at the national level, but it adopted a structure that effectively slowed women’s entry: membership flowed through state and county societies—many of which excluded women. The AMA’s leadership also punted admission debates to local societies, entrenching uneven, often discriminatory gatekeeping for decades. Journal of Ethics

Even after the AMA’s milestone—Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson admitted in 1876—local resistance persisted (e.g., some societies didn’t accept a woman member until the late 1880s). In other words, national recognition came late and rolled out slowly on the ground. American Medical Associationtheaahp.org

What Changed Because AIH Moved First

By acting in 1869, the AIH did more than offer membership cards. It validated women physicians within an organized national body, amplified their leadership, and institutionally linked women’s education (through women’s medical colleges) with professional legitimacy. That early recognition helped seed a network of women clinicians, teachers, and hospital founders who shaped American homeopathy’s golden era. nymc.edutheaahp.org

Why It Matters Now

This history isn’t just a footnote. It shows how professional structures—who’s allowed in the room—can accelerate (or block) progress. Homeopathy’s early inclusion of women was both principled and practical: it aligned with its patient community, embraced educational innovation, and expanded who could lead. The lesson endures: healthcare thrives when we open doors to those ready to contribute.

📜 Timeline: Women and Medical Institutions in the U.S.

1844 – American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) founded, becoming the first national medical society in the U.S.

1863 – New York Medical College and Hospital for Women founded by Dr. Clemence S. Lozier, one of the earliest medical schools created specifically for women, rooted in homeopathic training.

1869 – AIH admits women physicians to membership — a full 7 years before the AMA would admit its first woman.

1876 – Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson becomes the first female member of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Late 1800s – Women gain ground in homeopathy: by 1910, women comprised ~25% of the International Hahnemannian Association, ~12% of AIH, and only ~16% of the medical profession overall.

1910 – Flexner Report published, leading to the closure of many homeopathic colleges (including those created for women), dramatically reducing women’s foothold in medical education.

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