Against the Odds pays tribute to the pioneering women of New Zealand’s medical profession. Photo: Supplied: Massey University Press
This year Otago Medical School turns 150. Half of the graduates will be women.
But it was not always the case, and a new book details the struggle of women to become part of New Zealand's medical fraternity.
Against the Odds: New Zealand's First Women Doctors covers a 70 year period from the 1890s to 1967 - the year before a medical school would open in Auckland, with biographies of 150 of the 400 female Otago graduates over that time.
Many faced discrimination from their family, peers and lecturers - told they were "taking a man's place" or that they'd simply "leave to have babies".
In some cases, bits of flesh would be put into lab coat pockets - some teachers made female students leave the room during lectures on the reproductive system.
Yet they persisted - with the majority of those graduating over those 70 years going on to have successful careers.
Kathryn speaks to the book's co-authors Cynthia Farquhar and Michaela Selway.
Against the Odds: New Zealand's First Women Doctors is published by Massey University Press and is on sale from Thursday June 5.
