It’s rare that you get to read about women successfully scaling the peaks of the Himalayas. Less than a year ago, a group of 10 Nepali women climbed to the top of Mount Everest to celebrate the achievements of women all over the world, all while battling avalanches, low oxygen levels, sub-zero temperatures and herds of Yetis. (Okay, I made that last part up. I don’t think Yetis travel in herds.)
This week, the Everest Women of Nepal have announced that they will be traveling around the world to speak at schools about their treacherous expedition in order “to teach and inspire children, with topics of gender equality, women’s empowerment and global warming among the top priorities.”
Take that, Bear Grylls!
It’s truly inspiring to hear their story and their focus on female empowerment. I’ve always viewed feats like mountain-climbing to be limited to the non-Asian communities due to all the publicity and legends around celebrities like Edmund Hillary or Jon Krakauer (despite the fact that they were always guided by some sherpa–how come they never got any recognition? They climbed the mountains, too!). But am I surprised that the first female-only group to climb the Himalayas was made up of Nepalis? Or that the very first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest was Japanese?
Definitely not, and it only gives me further proof that Asian women kick SERIOUS ASS.
