Sport has traditionally been a male-dominated field with so many barriers against female participation. Those who are brave enough to take it up, often go unrecognized. This article recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Junko Tabei (1939- 2016), a Japanese mountaineer. She was the first woman to reach the summit of Mt Everest in 1975 and was the first woman to ascend the Seven Summits in 1992. Just like most women in male-dominated fields, Tabei faced sexism during her career. Potential sponsors dismissed her and suggested she stay home and raise children instead. In the field, some male climbers would refuse to climb with her and go on to accuse her of being there to find a husband. Besides having an interest in Sport, Tabei was an avid environmentalist, as she organized clean-up campaigns to clean the rubbish left behind by climbers in a bid to keep the environment clean. Interestingly, a mountain range on Pluto was named after Tabei in November 2019. Tabei was an explorer who proved to the world that women can soar high. Her legacy continues to serve as an inspiration to women and girls that they are capable of reaching even the highest peaks!
iSAW Sharp Summary: Rutendo Changara
iSAW, international Strategic Accelerator for Women
Source: Junko Taibei, the First Woman to Climb Everest and the Seven Summits
