Heptathlon star Jessica Ennis-Hill came second in the top 10 (Image: SWNS)
Amelia Earhart, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Greta Thunberg have been named among the most inspiring women in history. According to a study of 2,000 adults, these women have inspired others to step out of their comfort zones.
The research revealed that 20% of respondents were motivated to embrace new challenges after learning about Earhart’s groundbreaking achievement as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Other women whose accomplishments inspired significant numbers of people include sailor Ellen MacArthur, who became the fastest person to solo circumnavigate the globe, as well as cyclist Laura Kenny, astronaut Sally Ride, and boxer Nicola Adams.
The study, commissioned by global technology brand highlights a significant lack of recognition for female explorers and pioneers.
While 64% of participants agreed that the stories of trailblazing women should be more widely told to encourage others to embrace their inner adventurer, 53% admitted they couldn’t name one female explorer.
Comparatively, fictional adventurers Lara Croft (63%) and Dora the Explorer (59%) were much more widely recognised than real-life pioneers such as Jane Goodall (22%) or Gertrude Bell (9%).
Only 3% of respondents were aware of Dorothy Pilley, a 20th-century mountaineer who championed women’s climbing. To help highlight Dorothy’s pioneering journey across Corsica, OnePlus has teamed up with intrepid explorer Elise Wortley for a unique expedition.
The adventure, which also features renowned mountaineer Edurne Pasaban and adventurer Lotta Hintsa, is set to pay tribute to Pilley’s pioneering spirit and encourage others to embark on their own explorations. The OnePlus 13, touted as the perfect companion for modern-day explorers, will capture every moment of this historic journey.
Wortley expressed her enthusiasm about highlighting unsung female adventurers: “Dorothy Pilley should be essential learning for all of us. This fascinating woman was one of the first female mountaineers and trailblazing adventurers.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring her incredible story to life and inspire future generations to embrace adventure and exploration as she did.”
Research accompanying the announcment of the expedition uncovered a gender gap in recognition of explorers: while figures like Charles Darwin and Marco Polo are well-known, only 56% of people recalled learning about female explorers in school or higher education.
A significant 84% of those surveyed acknowledged that narratives of exploration and discovery are predominantly male-focused.
Adventurer Elise Wortley (Image: OnePlus)
OnePlus Europe’s representative Celina Shi highlighted the significance of recognising trailblazing women, stating: “There are so many fascinating expeditions led by women that often go forgotten.
“This partnership aims to not only document the adventure but to inspire future explorers through the incredible legacy of figures like Dorothy Pilley.”
Top 10 trailblazing women who have inspired Brits:
- Amelia Earhart – The first woman to pilot a plane solo across the Atlantic.
- Jessica Ennis-Hill – Olympic heptathlon champion.
- Greta Thunberg – The Swedish teenager leading the global climate change movement with her striking school protests and fervent campaigning.
- Dorothy Pilley – Foremost British mountaineer and author who actively promoted women’s involvement in climbing, co-founded the Pinnacle Club, and penned the seminal memoir “Climbing Days” back in 1935.
- Ellen MacArthur – Shattered the world record for fastest solo navigation around the globe.
- Laura Kenny – Holds the title as Britain’s most honoured female Olympian cyclist.
- Sally Ride – Broke new frontiers as the first American woman in space, participated in two shuttle missions, and later fiercely advocated for science education, encouraging young girls towards STEM pathways.
- Nicola Adams – Carved history as the first female boxer to clinch an Olympic gold medal.
- Mary Anning – The palaeontologist known for her ground breaking fossil discoveries.
- Gertrude Bell – The explorer and archaeologist who charted parts of the Middle East.