Antarctic expeditioners complain of 'predatory', widespread sexual harassment as minister, division urge change

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A review reveals disturbing reports of a widespread culture of sexual harassment at Australian Antarctic stations, including women being too afraid to disclose their periods for fear of retribution.

Australians sent to work in Antarctica have complained about a widespread and predatory culture of sexual harassment with unwelcome requests for sex, taunting, displays of offensive pornography and homophobia.A report into the culture at Australia's Antarctic research stations has detailed abusive and harassing behaviours

Professor Meredith Nash, who wrote the report completed earlier this year, said some women do not believe the Antarctic stations are safe and that it may be unethical to continue sending women to them until their safety can be assured. Professor Nash, who is an associate dean at the Australian National University, told the ABC that women "have to work in the field with their abusers for weeks at a time because they simply can't leave".

"Women in this study described their attempts to practically conceal menstruation in Antarctica in environments where the infrastructure for them to do so was absent or inadequate," the report read. "Whilst women in this study found a range of ways to individually cope, the more concerning issue is that people who menstruate feel compelled to uphold a male-dominated field culture in which menstruation is concealed and controlled to meet masculine cultural norms."Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was "gobsmacked" by the report and demanded cultural change.

 

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It’s really not that surprising - it just reflects the culture of most work places in Australia. The blokey, sexist behaviour is fairly standard nationally, as is the predatory aspect, just look at Canberra and all the revelations about what goes on there.

Time for a funding freeze until the Antarctic Division cleans up its act. Sending an all- female expedition is a great idea, but surely some of the senior blokes should be SACKED.

I have another question. What are the “good men” doing while this is going on? Where are our allies? Where are the guys who will say “Bro, WTF? NO!”? Not in Antarctica by the looks of it.

The entire article has left me fuming. It is about time the scientific community cleaned up its own closet. People were scared to complain - 'feared they would be targeted or not invited back for future expeditions'. 🤬

There's nothing wrong with asking for sex!!! They should culturally screen women and exclude those who are mortally offended by being sexually propositioned.

The Men are the Issue, name,shame, charge and remove them...it's unexceptionable conduct in this day... it's pathetic our Gov are doing nothing as per usual to protect Women and there Rights...we live in the dark ages in Oz

Henry_Belot can you post a link to the report summary please

Women in science in Aust have long experienced sexual discrimination by men. Have heard CSIRO not great either. Perhaps it is male scientists who should miss out on hard-to-get work. Female scientists should flush this out now.

svenja_halfter Is a woman allowed to take a pet with her? A Rottweiler or Pittbull perhaps? If necessary, let the men fly out...

If Expeditioner training in Tasmania still occurs pre departure - setting expectations, then Expedition behaviour and leadership need to be dissected. Making it any thing else that effective group disciplined behaviour is woke.

seems credible

And I thought the fairy penguins were bad enough.

There’s no way I would go to an extreme isolated location to live with a bunch of people I don’t trust!

Oh dear! We must be very concerned about this.

What, are they sending immigrants to Antarctica now as well.

It says it may be unethical to continue to send women, perhaps it’s the men that shouldn’t go

Not that the researcher has an anti-science pro marxist agenda ...

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