ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the history of China's first medical college for women founded by American medical missionaries and its contribution to medical modernization in China. It studies the social and political role of the women doctors educated by Americans and their impact on the modern women's rights movement in China. The Chinese social construct created more difficulties for the medical missionaries than the Chinese physicians. The isolation of most of the Chinese women and their lack of knowledge opened an unrestricted sphere in China for American female physicians, who would combine the essential physical strength and honorable bravery with dedication to the unselfish tasks of their medical practice. The establishment of the Hackett Medical College for Women had a great impact on China. Women's working rights were a significant part of women's rights. The Hackett's alumnae and students not only raised women's social and economic status in the women's rights movement, but also played a political role in Chinese society.
