The Making of a Feminist Physician
by Alice Rothchild
New Village Press
Hardcover, 432 pages
Also available in ebook
The journey of a 1950s good girl to an irreverent, feisty, feminist physician
Inspired and Outraged is the intimate memoir of Alice Rothchild from her adolescence to her mid-40s and the experiences that contributed to her passion and power as a doctor, an activist, and a woman. Compiling stories of her life in verse, Rothchild explores the events of her childhood, her training as an obstetrician-gynecologist, and her discovery of feminism as a guiding force in her life.
Rothchild’s voice encapsulates her perseverance in the face of the male-dominated medical world and the shifting sexual politics of the late twentieth century. This memoir is both a record of the past and an urgent call to action.
Available November 19, 2024
Listen to Alice read 7 excerpts from her new memoir.
Advance praise
“The extraordinary Alice Rothchild has done it again: made us understand intellectually and
emotionally her very American Jewish woman’s journey into an adulthood of passion, justice,
and sensitivity. Written in free form poetry, this very accessible and powerful memoir of he
coming of age into feminism, medicine, and justice should be read by everyone. It will help you
make sense of our world as it moves you to tears.”
—Susan M. Reverby, Professor Emerita in the History of Ideas and Women and Gender
Studies, Wellesley College
“This remarkable memoir depicts so eloquently the many challenges facing women going into medicine both back in the 1970s as well as more recently. It will surely inspire both young and old to speak truth to power as we seek to preserve our fragile democratic institutions.”
– Judy Norsigian and Jane Pincus, cofounders of Our Bodies Ourselves
“The extraordinary Alice Rothchild has done it again: made us understand intellectually and emotionally her very American Jewish woman’s journey into an adulthood of passion, justice, and sensitivity. Written in free form poetry, this very accessible and powerful memoir of her coming of age into feminism, medicine, and justice should be read by everyone. It will help you make sense of our world as it moves you to tears. A terrific, compelling story showing a feminist OB-GYN creating the care I wish I had. The only memoir that ever made me want to write my own!”
– Roslyn Feldberg, former Assistant Professor of Sociology, Boston University, Fellow, Murray Center, Radcliffe College, and Associate Director of Labor, Massachusetts Nurses Association
“Alice Rothchild’s memoir in verse is an embodied, poignant romp through second wave feminism’s struggle to remake the medical profession’s approach to women’s bodies. Enraging as it should be, readers learn not only to what extent condescension (and worse) reigned, but how it felt to try to fix it. Inspired and Outraged is poetry sparkling with purpose.”
– Erin Matson, co-founder, president, and CEO of Reproaction, advancing reproductive justice
“Inspired and Outraged is a stirring and instructive account of a life dedicated to improving women’s health as a feminist OB/GYN. Dr. R’s fascinating story is rich with chutzpah, daring, and a deep and overarching love for humanity.”
– Amy Agigian, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sociology and Criminal Justice, and Founding Director, Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights, Suffolk University
Book reviews
Inspired & Outraged makes
Ms Feminist Know-It-All reading list
“This free-verse autobiography is unique, compelling, enraging and inspiring. Through engaging and passionate poetry, feminist obstetrician-gynecologist Alice Rothchild powerfully recounts her experiences fighting for gender equity in medicine, reform in health care and justice in the world.”
– Karla J. Strand
“This remarkable memoir depicts so eloquently the many challenges facing women going into medicine both back in the 1970s as well as more recently. It will surely inspire both young and old to speak truth to power as we seek to preserve our fragile democratic institutions.”
– Judy Norsigian and Jane Pincus, cofounders of Our Bodies Ourselves
“Alice Rothchild’s memoir in verse is an embodied, poignant romp through second wave feminism’s struggle to remake the medical profession’s approach to women’s bodies. Enraging as it should be, readers learn not only to what extent condescension (and worse) reigned, but how it felt to try to fix it. Inspired and Outraged is poetry sparkling with purpose.”
– Erin Matson, co-founder, president, and CEO of Reproaction, advancing reproductive justice
“Inspired and Outraged is a stirring and instructive account of a life dedicated to improving women’s health as a feminist OB/GYN. Dr. R’s fascinating story is rich with chutzpah, daring, and a deep and overarching love for humanity.”
– Amy Agigian, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sociology and Criminal Justice, and Founding Director, Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights, Suffolk University
“The extraordinary Alice Rothchild has done it again: made us understand intellectually and emotionally her very American Jewish woman’s journey into an adulthood of passion, justice, and sensitivity. Written in free form poetry, this very accessible and powerful memoir of her coming of age into feminism, medicine, and justice should be read by everyone. It will help you make sense of our world as it moves you to tears… A terrific, compelling story showing a feminist OB-GYN creating the care I wish I had. The only memoir that ever made me want to write my own!”
– Roslyn Feldberg, former Assistant Professor of Sociology, Boston University, Fellow, Murray Center, Radcliffe College, and Associate Director of Labor, Massachusetts Nurses Association