Erxleben was instructed in medicine by her father from an early age. The Italian scientist Laura Bassi's university professorship inspired Erxleben to fight for her right to practise medicine. In 1742, she published a tract arguing that women should be allowed to attend university. After being admitted to study by a dispensation of Frederick the Great, Erxleben received her MD from the University of Halle in 1754. She was the first German woman to receive a MD. She went on to analyse the obstacles preventing women from studying, among them housekeeping and children.
Personal life
She was the mother ofJohann Christian Polycarp Erxleben. Erxleben and her brother, Christian Polycarp Leporin, studied basic science, Latin, and medicine with their father, Christian Polycarp Leporin. Her father was a physician at Quedlinburg in Prussia. She practiced medicine on poor people. The idea of a woman studying medicine was shocking at the time, and a point was made that since women were not allowed to hold public officeby law, they also should not practice medicine or need a medical degree. Three doctors of Quedlinburg accused her of quackery and demanded that she sit for an examination. The rector of the University of Halle decided that practicing medicine was not the same as holding public office and allowed Erxleben to take her examination. She took her examinations and was given her degree on June 12, 1754.
Tract
Erxleben studied the medical theory ofGeorg Ernst Stahl, which was connected with Pietism. This influenced her to challenge the theological and philosophical groundwork of why women were placed in a subordinate position. Predicting criticism from both sexes, Erxleben addressed male and female readers. She used the language of modesty, a common method used by women in the Querelle des Femmes, while addressing male readers. She is more direct and critical of women's excuses that are used to avoid educating themselves to improve their lives. She recognized that some women are occupied with physically demanding work of caring for the household and have little time to educate themselves. Despite this, she still criticized them for lacking the drive to get an education.
