Ten Historic 'Firsts' For Women Worldwide In 2023

Women achieved numerous feats this year, proving time and again that they can do it all. From breaking records to smashing stereotypes, these women created global history. These women's achievements provided a refreshing break from all the news about discrimination and violence against women around the world this year. Here's a look back at the year's greatest conquests by women who scripted records and paved the way for a revolution against gender barriers.

From science to entertainment, leadership to business, these women stand tall as an inspiration for their successors. Although this list does not encompass all the elaborate achievements of women, here are 10 of the most memorable causes for celebration.

Christina Koch, First Female Astronaut Assigned To Lunar Mission

Christina Hammock Koch, American engineer and NASA astronaut, will be the first woman to ever head to the moon. In April, the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced four astronauts to take on the lunar mission, out of which Koch was the first woman and Victor Glover will be the first black man. 

All the previous missions by NASA were carried out by white men, but the Administration is now determined to be inclusive of people of colour and women. Better late than never. 44-year-old Koch holds the record for the longest continuous time in space by a woman, 328 days. With NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, she participated in the first all-female spacewalk in October 2019.

Claudia Goldin, First Solo Woman Awarded Nobel Prize In Economics

Claudia Goldin became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Economics sans a co-author. Notably, she won the Nobel Prize for studying the obstacles women face in obtaining equal pay. She is a professor of economics at Harvard University, and was awarded for "having advanced our understanding of women's labour market outcomes,” the Nobel Prize organisation noted.

Dong Hong Juan, First Female To Climb All Peaks Of Mount Shishapangma 

Dong Hong Juan from China achieved the great feat of conquering all 14 peaks of Mount Shishapangma in Tibet, all of which are over 8,000 metres high. She was accompanied by two guides from Imagine Nepal, an adventure facilitator organisation, and set to climb all peaks from 2015, completing her journey in April this year.

Kirsten Neuschäfer, First Woman To Win Golden Globe Sailing Race

South African sailor, Kirsten Neuschäfer became the first woman to sail around the world and win the Golden Globe Race (GGR) in January. Since the Golden Globe marathons first started in 1968, no woman has been able to achieve the winning title until this year. Neuschäfer is the first woman to win any round-the-world sailing race and also the first South African sailor ever to win a global event. The GGR is a retro sailing race in which the entrants single-handedly circumnavigate around the globe, solo, nonstop by using boats with technology only available to someone in the 60s.

Janet Truncale, First Woman To Lead A Big Four Firm

Ernst and Young (EY) announced on November 15 that Janet Truncale will take over as the firm's Global Chair and CEO, from July next year, making her the first female professional to lead a Big Four firm. Truncale first joined EY as an intern in 1991 and is currently the Vice Chairperson and Regional Managing Partner of the EY Americas Financial Services Organization.

Greta Gerwig, First Woman To Create Film With Biggest Debut Collection

Greta Gerwig made history when her cult film Barbie achieved the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a female artist, Her film made $162 million in just North American ticket sales. She has been credited with several more highly regarded films like Little Women and Lady Bird.

Gerwig will be serving as the jury president at next year's Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious entertainment events, calling her a "heroine of modern our times." Her films have served a feminist view on characters, especially women, eschewing stereotypical archetypes.

Beyoncé, First Person To Win 32 Grammys

Beyoncé became the most awarded artist in Grammy history this year, across artists of all genders, shining with 32 trophies. This year, she won the Grammy in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category. Her Rennaisance tour took the world by storm, and the tour film was recently released. Not only is Beyoncé's achievement and worldwide reach a remarkable feat for women artists, but also a torchbearer to the talent and representation of people of colour. 

Taylor Swift, First Woman To Appear On TIME's 2023 Person Of The Year Twice

Not only did Taylor Swift script history as the only woman to appear twice on the TIME Person Of The Year cover, she also became the first woman to gather 100 million active listeners on Spotify this year. She has become a household name all over the world as a beloved musician, especially since her Era's Tour. She also broke box office records with her tour film.

Kamala Harris, First Woman To Give West Point Commencement Speech

US Vice President Kamala Harris became the first female leader to address the US Army Academy graduates at this year's West Point graduation ceremony. In the academy's  221-year history, no woman has ever received the honour of being the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

"Cadets, today you come to the end of what I am sure will prove to be 47 of the most challenging and rewarding months of your life... On behalf of our Commander-in-Chief, President Joe Biden, and our entire nation — Cadets, it is my honour to congratulate you on taking your place in the Long Gray Line," she said in her speech.

Senator Patty Murray, First Female Leader To Cast 10,000th Vote

President pro tempore of the US Senate, Patty Murray, made history in April as the first woman to cast a 10,000th vote on the Senate floor. She was Washington's first female US senator and the first woman in American history to hold the position of president pro tempore. Only 32 other senators, all male, have been able to achieve this milestone to date. Senator Murray has been the senior US Senator from Washington since 1993.