Can you remember learning about female explorers in school? In fact, can you even name a female explorer? According to new research, over half of Brits (53%) couldn’t name a female explorer off the top of their heads, with only 16% learning about them during school, college or university, despite 56% wishing they had.
However, when it comes to male explorers, the average Brit can name between 2-3 off the top of their head, with Charles Darwin (82%), Marco Polo (75%), and Christopher Columbus (73%) being the most recognised. As a result, 84% of Brits believe that exploration has historically been viewed as a male-dominated field and nearly 7 out of 10 (68%) believe that women are not at all represented in literature, media and educational materials.
Despite Dorothy Pilley’s achievements, including being one of the first female mountaineers, who extensively traveled the Pyrenees, Mount Fuji and the Himalayas, only 3% can recognise her, yet half of respondents felt empowered after hearing her story. Currently, 59% of women don’t feel empowered when it comes to exploring with the primary reasons being a lack of confidence (39%), health or physical limitations (38%) and a fear of the unknown or unfamiliar (31%). Moving forward, 64% feel that pioneering stories of women should be told more often in order to celebrate the achievements of women in history (67%), with a further 65% keen to ensure that women’s contributions are properly acknowledged.
In an effort to rewrite the history books, OnePlus has partnered with three female explorers, led by Elise Wortley, founder of the Woman With Altitude initiative, for an expedition. Elise, who will be in historically-accurate clothing will be joined by Spanish record-breaking mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, and former Miss Finland turned explorer; Lotta Hintsa. This will commemorate the historic expedition of Dorothy Pilley across Corsica, from Bastia to the summit of Monte Cinto, which took place in 1922.
“Dorothy Pilley should be essential learning for all of us and the fact that this pioneering woman doesn’t feature in our history books and culture is truly devastating. This fascinating woman was one of the first female mountaineers and trailblazing adventurers, who inspired so many generations of women that came after her, yet, only 3% of Brits can recognise her! There is so much we can still learn from women like Dorothy and thanks to OnePlus, I am as ready as ever to retrace her steps alongside Edurne and Lotta and we couldn’t be more excited to capture our journey through this expedition, bringing Dorothy Pilley’s incredible story to life and inspiring future generations to embrace adventure and exploration as she did.”
Elise Wortley, lead explorer and founder of the Woman With Altitude initiative
These pioneering women will be capturing Dorothy Pilley’s trek on the new OnePlus 13 with capabilities built to withstand the demands of an expedition, including Glove Touch and Aqua Touch 2.0, allowing seamless use with either wet or oily hands. In addition, the AI Intelligence search supports route plotting and adventure logistics, making it the perfect tool for this bold expedition. Likewise, the Dual Exposure camera performs exceptionally in challenging environments to document every memory. The device is built to withstand the demanding pressure of an expedition, with enhanced water and dust resistance, making it suitable for various environmental conditions encountered during adventures.
“It has never been more important to pay homage to the pioneering women that paved the way before us. There are so many fascinating expeditions led by women that still are forgotten, so we’re delighted to be working with Elise, Lotta and Edurne on this ‘Women with Altitude’ adventure. Being an explorer comes in so many shapes and forms and we are excited to capture this with the OnePlus 13 in a way that Dorothy Pilley wasn’t able to. OnePlus’ “Never Settle” mantra is a powerful invitation to embrace life’s adventures and continuously push beyond comfort zones through innovative technology and inspiring experiences – something Elise, Lotta and Edurne absolutely embody!”
Celina Shi, Chief Marketing Officer, OnePlus Europe
OnePlus’ research has also revealed trailblazing women who break barriers and lead innovation who inspire the most include Amelia Earhart (20%), Jessica Ennis-Hill (14%) and Greta Thunberg (13%). In fact, 1 in 5 Brits admit they have stepped out of their comfort zone, as a result of pioneering women, with a further 17% improving their self-confidence as a result.
Following the expedition, a documentary of the trip will be released which has been captured on the OnePlus13 device. For more information, visit oneplus.com or follow @oneplus_europe on social media for updates and announcements.
