Madrid: Concepción Arenal Blog Post

We have learned a lot about Concepción Arenal during our time here in Spain.  She is a journalist and poet who also graduated with a degree in law.  During law school she had to dress as a man not because she had to disguise herself to be let into the school, but because she was told if she did not she would make the men distracted and uncomfortable.  She did so and continued to dress as a man throughout her life because she found she was taken more seriously when she was dressed as a man.  This resonated with things we are told as a woman throughout our life especially as a woman in the church.  

Her contribution is so important because she wanted to attend school and university.  She found a way to do so.  She also advocated for women prisoners because of the mistreatment and the lack of reform for prisoners.  Prisoners were decided that they were a criminal by the shape of their head.  She fought to make improvements for prisoners so that they would be able to be humanized.  She also worked on soldiers during war to care for them and heal them.  She became Spains first "traveling nurse."  She pioneered the idea of professionalized nursing which has made such a difference in the health care profession.  

In my opinion I believe that Concepción was commemorated well.  She was such an educated woman who changed many different professions through her efforts.  She has a statue further outside of the city which is something that can be improved.  For a woman who has done so much for so many different fields of work should have a statue in the heart of the city.  However, it does make sense that the statue is outside of the university that she studied in.  She also has a plaque inside of this university right in their auditorium.  This is a good show of her importance considering this auditorium is seen by many many people.