Edward Hammond Clarke

Edward Hammond Clarke (February 2, 1820 – November 30, 1877) was a Harvard Medical School professor (1855-1872) and medical doctor. He caused controversy in 1873 following the publication of his book Sex in Education; or, a Fair Chance for Girls, in which he argued that women were inherently less physically and intellectually capable than men. He claimed that a woman's health would deteriorate as a result of higher education, and moreover that the education of women would come at the expense of their reproductive health. He was not alone in holding such antifeminist views at a time when women were asserting their right to higher education. His claims were notably rebutted by physician Mary Putnam Jacobi in 1876.

Biography Early life and education Born in Norton, Massachusetts, he was the fourth and youngest child of Reverend Pitt Clarke and Mary Jones Clarke. His father graduated from Harvard College and was a Minister of the First Congregational Society in Norton for forty-two years. His mother was known for writing many poems. His family home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1976. Clarke's uncle was Major Jacob Clarke, a building contractor who built the Allin Congregational Church.

Clarke went to Harvard College for his undergraduate studies. During his junior year, he suffered a haemorrhage in the lungs and became so ill that he could not attend Commencement and was unable to obtain honours for his studies, despite being first in his class. He concluded his undergraduate studies in 1841. After Harvard, he decided to pursue a medical career and enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He received his M.D. in 1846 and subsequently spent time travelling in Europe, where he studied otology.

Medical practice On his return from Europe, Clarke practiced medicine in Boston, specializing in otology and general practice. He was regarded highly as a physician and well known for his expertise in otology although he later gave up the specialization to focus on general practice. His popularity with upper middle class patients grew as he became more well-known. Clarke was said to have personable qualities and was described as having an “inquiring, observant, reflective, and judicial” mind suitable for medical practice. Although he claimed that women should be allowed to learn whatever they could, he doubted women had the same ability to succeed as men. In fact, he believed that women's educational capacity was limited by their physiology. The members of the Women's Club were shocked by Clarke's contention about the alleged intrinsic inferiority of women's potential for education compared to men. To support his claims he cited the cases of seven women whose health condition deteriorated apparently as a result of "arduous" studies in college. For example, one of the women who had gone to Vassar College and was referred to Dr. Clarke, was depicted by him as “neuralgic and hysterical.” Jacobi collected extensive physiological data on women throughout their menstrual cycle, including muscle strength tests before and after menstruation. She concluded that "there is nothing in the nature of menstruation to imply the necessity, or even desirability, of rest." In 1876, Jacobi received Harvard University's Boylston Prize or her work, the first woman to win the prize.

Death Clarke was diagnosed with cancer in the lower part of his intestine and died in 1877.