the belief that the truths of religion and the practice of religion cannot be of much importance to their parents. Feminism An important theme in Scharlieb's writings was the importance of including a female point of view, in both medical and legislative arenas. This principle was also shown in her commitment to providing medical care for women in India. Scharlieb was concerned with the issues of "racial degeneration" and "social purity". As such, she advocated for state support for mothers, so that they might produce a healthy next generation. As a feminist she drew heavily on the theories of race superiority and argued that it was only natural that greater equality between the sexes in Britain should be achieved owing to their racial similarity. As a matter of fact, she argued, there is more physical, mental and moral resemblance "between an Englishman and an Englishwoman … than there is between an Englishman and a Bantu or Hottentot man." Writings A Woman's Words to Women (1895) The Mother's Guide to the Health and Care of her Children (1905) Womanhood and Race-regeneration (1912) The Seven Ages of Woman (1915) The Hope of the Future (1916) The Welfare of the Expectant Mother (1919) Yet a More Excellent Way (novel) (1929) Dr Scharlieb wrote an autobiography late in life. Reminiscences, Dr Mary Scharlieb C.B.E., J.P. (1924). London:Williams and Norgate Legacy In 1930, it was decided that a ward in the Royal Free Hospital would be named after her following construction of a new gynaecological and obstetrical unit at the hospital. See also Women physicians References External links Biography at Project Canterbury Patient records of the Royal Free Hospital at GENESIS Scharlieb, Dame Mary Ann Dacomb (1845–1930) at the National Archives (UK) 1845 births 1930 deaths English memoirists 20th-century English medical doctors Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Writers from London English women medical doctors Madras Medical College alumni Christian medical missionaries Female Christian missionaries English Anglican missionaries British women memoirists 20th-century British women writers 20th-century British non-fiction writers Anglican missionaries in India English gynaecologists 20th-century women physicians 20th-century English women 20th-century English people