Edward Hammond Clarke (1820–1877) was an influential American physician and author, who lectured at Harvard University and contributed significantly to the medical field. His most controversial work, “Sex in Education; or, A Fair Chance for Girls”, published in 1873, sparked widespread debate due to its assertions regarding the impact of rigorous education on the female physiology. Clarke argued that excessive mental exertion could lead to detrimental consequences for the reproductive system—a view that reflected the prevailing biases of his time and had lasting effects on the perception of women”s education. Despite the book”s contentious nature, it undeniably played a role in the discourse surrounding gender and education during the late 19th century. Clarke”s ideas mirror the Victorian era”s emphasis on pseudoscientific justifications for gender roles, but his overall literary style tended to be clinical, rooted in his medical expertise. His contributions, while met with both resistance and acceptance, have since been critically re-evaluated by scholars interested in the history of gender studies and education.