Dare to Inspire: World Records Broken by Women

“Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world.” 

— Eleanor Roosevelt, “It’s Up to the Women”

This International Women’s Day, we get to witness the resilience and beauty of womanhood in all forms. Despite the restrictions of traditional norms, these women were unafraid to break records and make their presence known to the world.

Lisa Farthofer

Lisa Farthofer, a 32 year old Austrian professional sailor, is the first woman to row the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean. She rowed in Antarctica for 407 nautical miles (753.7 Km) from January 11th to 17th 2023. She was part of an expedition with fellow teammates including Fiann Paul, Mike Matson, Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, Stefan Ivanov, and Brian Krauskopf. Unfortunately, they were unable to complete their goal due to crew injuries and illnesses but their impressive journey managed to break many records. 

Lisa Farthofer (Austria)

Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson

Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson discovered her passion for skydiving and parachuting at the age of 90. After that, she set her goal to be the oldest tandem parachute jumper in the world and broke that record in 2022 at the age of 103. Her entire family were present at the scene, waiting for her landing, all incredibly proud of the elderly member of the family.  

Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson (Sweden)

Asha Mandela

At the age of 60, Asha Mandela, an African-American woman, holds the record for the longest dreadlocks in the world. Beginning her journey 40 years ago, her hair today is more than 110 feet long and weighs around 19 Kgs. Mandela’s style is an inspiration to people who aspire to wear unique hairstyles that proudly present her culture. With support from her husband and stylist, she maintains her hair with care and detail. Mandela’s form of self-expression encompasses what it means to be a woman–to choose to love yourself. 

Asha Mandela (America)

Taylor Demonbreun

The 29-year-old American woman from Alabama embarked on her journey to visit all 196 sovereign countries in just 1 year and 189 days. Taylor Demonbreun set the fastest record, overall and female, on December 7th 2018. Initially worried about being unable to complete it in time, Demonbreun thoroughly planned her trek across the world and also worked during the journey to obtain visas for 60 countries. She sets a great example for every aspiring female solo traveller. 

Taylor Demonbreun (America)

Nathalie McGloin

After being involved in a car accident, Nathalie McGloin is paralyzed from the chest down when she was young. Her attitude and outlook on life completely changed after her spinal surgery. Before her accident, she admits she was not interested in car racing of any form. However, she proves that women, when determined, can achieve anything. She is the first female tetraplegic to be granted a racing licence. She also breaks barriers of gender, unbothered by the perception of female drivers in competition and focuses on encouraging other disabled individuals to pursue their interest in the sport.

Nathalie McGloin (England)

Wildine Aumoithe

Wildine Aumoithe was only 18 years old when she broke the record for the world’s shortest (non-mobile) female living. Her shorter stature is due to a rare form of Dwarfism. Thankfully, Aumoithe was never bullied for her Dwarfism during her school years, where people would expect it to happen the most, but she is neither shaken by any of the looks she gets in public. She now dreams of being a pharmacist, wanting to be the first little person to become one. 

Wildine Aumoithe (America)

Tamara Walcott

Tamara Walcott is a female powerlifter and mother recognised by the World Raw Powerlifting Federation American Pro for the heaviest cumulative lift for bench/squat and press in competition in 2022. As a part of her weight loss and fitness journey, she took up dumbbell classes and eventually picked up powerlifting. Despite only four years of experience at the time, she lifted a total of 737.5 Kgs across 3 lifts – squat, bench and deadlift. By marking her place in the world of fitness, she debunks the myth that plus-sized people are unfit. 

Tamara Walcott (America)

Harnaam Kaur

At the age of 24, Harnaam Kaur was titled as the youngest woman in the world to have a full beard. Kaur has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common condition amongst women that elevates testosterone in female bodies. This caused her to grow a full beard of 6 inches, and while she initially planned to remove it, she learned to embrace her facial hair. The anti-bullying activist focuses on promoting body positivity and self-love.

Harnaam Kaur (England)

Ginny MacColl

Actress and Broadway dancer, Ginny MacColl, is an inspiration to elderly women as well as those suffering from different conditions. Diagnosed with osteopenia, her doctor recommended she begin upper body strength training. Initially struggling with even 5 pull-ups, MacColl reversed her condition within 2 years and broke the record for the oldest competitive female ninja athlete. A niche hobby even for younger people, MacColl achieved this at the age of 72 in 2023. 

Ginny MacColl (America)

The Humanity of Women

As women, there is a strong community built around encouraging one another to express themselves the way they wish to be seen. There is a history of discrimination and limitations imposed on women that need to be dismantled. Understanding what it means to be a woman through your abilities is the key to eliminating any social obstacles. With the will to never give up, these women were able to break records through sheer determination. We hope that more women, by seeing these records, are inspired to feel proud of who they are and set their records. 

Living Fearless – Women Safety Apps in India

We’re living in the digital era which means the human experience is now deeply connected with the digital world. Be it food or clothes, all things required are now just a few clicks away making our lives easier. On the other hand, there are a plethora of applications designed to help people from every walk of life be it kindergarten rhymes or senior citizen support. The digital landscape has undoubtedly changed how people lived their lives but a few grave concerns remain the same. One such concern is that of women’s safety. 

If you’re an Indian reader then I do not need to reiterate the horrors women go through in our country. Robbery, domestic violence, assaults and rapes are over the news in India at a disturbing rate which begs us to ask the question of whether women are truly safe in the country. In our women’s special edition, we wanted to get our readers acquainted with these women’s safety applications in case of an unfortunate event. Check them out now

112 India

Perhaps the most important application when it comes to women’s safety in the country is the 112 India app. It is an all-in-one women’s safety app that can be used to issue SOS alerts with only one single tap in any situation. The application is available on both Android and iOS devices in 23 states and Union Territories across India. Users need to simply register themselves using their phone number and add the necessary information. In addition, users may also be asked to enter an emergency contact number to notify that person in case of an emergency. The app’s functionality is pretty straightforward too as it automatically sends the user’s details like name, age, emergency contact, and location to nearby volunteers and generates an automated call to 112 which is the state emergency control room. 

My Safetipin: Complete Safety 

In today’s age, women and men function on an equal footing. This means, more and more women are now stepping out of the house to work and provide for their families. However, the unfair threat of safety looms over women which has been effectively addressed by the My Safetipin application. This app’s goal is to make cities safer by generating safety scores for places around the country by collecting massive data. The application sports features like GPS tracking, emergency contact numbers, direction to safe locations around cities, pins and alerts for unsafe areas and also provides the safest route options for women. 

Sheroes 

Sadly, social media is also not an entirely safe place for women. Receiving threats and unsolicited pictures is a common occurrence women face around the world. This is where Sheroes comes into the picture, it is a leading social media platform exclusively for women. At Sheroes, women can share their passions through posts and videos in a safe digital environment. Sheroes is not just limited to being a social media platform for women but also a helpline where women can chat anonymously and share their feelings. Community legal support and Mahila Kanoon support are also available at Sheroes. 

bSafe

bSafe is a comprehensive safety app for women that boasts a wide range of features. It’s equipped with the bSafe alarm which broadcasts the exact location and an audio-video from the location for ease with your emergency contact. It also features the ‘Follow Me’ feature which allows users to virtually track GPS until their loved ones have arrived at the location. An interesting feature in the application is the fake call feature which helps people escape an unwanted situation by pretending they’re on a call with someone. 

Chilla 

Chilla is a unique application that serves the singular purpose of triggering an alert message. Women can be stuck in situations where they are unable to press the emergency button on their phone during an attack, in such cases, they can shout loudly and activate the  SOS alert on their device. 

Women, Women, & Women!

We’re in a month that celebrates women’s milestones and their extraordinary roles in all spheres of society. However, women’s history month holds a more profound significance than just the bells and whistles we see on social media through various trends and hashtags. It is not just an opportunity for men to appreciate women but also the society as a whole to address the issues women face on a daily basis and still excel.

Women are indeed achievers, risk-takers, entrepreneurs, and multi-taskers. Over the years, women have made significant progress in breaking down barriers and overcoming obstacles in various fields. They have demonstrated their ability to lead and succeed in areas previously dominated by men. Women have made remarkable progress in various spheres of life over the past few decades, and their contributions to society are becoming increasingly recognized and valued.

Women are also excellent multi-taskers, balancing their work, family, and social lives with great skill and efficiency. They’re known for their ability to handle many responsibilities simultaneously and still achieve their goals. Women have shown that they can excel in various fields and are capable of achieving great things when given the opportunity. Their contributions to society are invaluable, and we should continue to support and empower women to achieve their full potential. 

Women Entrepreneurs in India: 

India has seen a jump in the number of women entrepreneurs in recent years. Women entrepreneurs are breaking barriers and challenging societal norms to create successful businesses across various industries. They are inspiring other women to take the leap and become entrepreneurs themselves. 

However, women entrepreneurs still face significant challenges, such as gender biases, lack of access to capital, and limited networking opportunities. Efforts are being made to create an environment that supports and encourages women entrepreneurs, including mentorship programs, financial incentives, and policy initiatives.

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in India:

Missing Role Models: There is a lack of female role models in the business world, which can make it difficult for women to envision themselves as entrepreneurs.

Social Responsibilities: Women entrepreneurs in India often face the dual burden of running a business and fulfilling their social and familial responsibilities.

Industry Restrictions: Certain industries are more male-dominated than others, making it difficult for women to enter and succeed in these sectors.

Education: A lack of access to education and vocational training can hinder women from developing the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs.

Ways To Help Women Overcome Barriers:

Access to Capital: Providing access to capital through government schemes or private organizations can help women entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

Mentorship and Networking: Connecting women entrepreneurs with successful businesswomen can provide them with guidance, advice, and networking opportunities.

Skill Development and Training: Providing education and training programs tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs can help them develop the necessary skills to succeed in their businesses.

Policy Changes: Changing policies to promote gender equality, such as promoting property ownership for women or offering tax incentives to women-led businesses, can help address some of the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs.

Awareness and Advocacy: Raising awareness about the challenges women entrepreneurs face and advocating for their rights and opportunities can help create a more supportive environment for female entrepreneurship in India.

Women are mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends, but they are also so much more than that. They are innovators, leaders, and change-makers who have made immeasurable contributions to every aspect of society. From the arts to the sciences, from politics to business, women have broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings, proving time and time again that they are just as capable as their male counterparts.

 

Girls cartoons design, Friendship together friends happy people and young theme Vector illustration

So today, let us celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and determination of women everywhere. Let us honour their sacrifices and continue to make them, and pledge to support and uplift them in every way possible. Because when women are given the freedom and opportunities to succeed, we all benefit. Here is Exhibit’s special women’s edition where we celebrate the backbone of our society – WOMEN!

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