Episode 372: Hoes of History: Lucy Hobbs Taylor

Lucy Hobbs Taylor broke barriers in dentistry and paved the way for generations of women in healthcare.  In the mid-1800s, women were largely shut out of professional careers—but Lucy Hobbs Taylor refused to accept that reality. Born in Constable, New York in 1833, Lucy began her career as a teacher before becoming determined to study dentistry. When dental schools repeatedly denied her admission because she was a woman, she trained through apprenticeship and began practicing anyway. Her persistence eventually paid off when the Ohio College of Dental Surgery admitted her, and in 1866 she became the first woman in the world to earn a dental degree. Despite resistance from male colleagues and professional societies, Lucy built a successful career and helped open the door for women to enter the field. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]