Friday 30 September 2022 07:56 AM Australia's Antarctic bases rife with sexual harassment, porn use and ... trends now
Women working at Australia's Antarctic bases are propositioned for sex, subjected to sexist jokes and porn, and feel forced to hide their periods to fit in with a 'blokey' culture.
Female expeditioners described predatory and objectifying behaviour at the Antarctic research stations and widespread sexual harassment in a damning review which drew an angry response from the Australian government.
The report, commissioned by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) into station culture, heard from women who said they had to 'practically conceal' periods and improvise menstrual products when none were available.
Women described changing menstrual products without privacy or adequate sanitation, having to carry bloody products in the field and altering their hormonal balance with medications to make menstruation less inconvenient.
Women working at Australia's Antarctic bases are propositioned for sex, subjected to sexist jokes and porn, and feel forced to hide their periods to fit in with a 'blokey' culture
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was shocked and disappointed when she read people's experiences, pledging an overhaul of culture
The study, by University of Tasmania professor Meredith Nash, conducted in-depth interviews with 22 AAD employees and held informal conversations with dozens more.
'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,' the summary report reads.
'I think on some level, it is unethical for us to continue trying to encourage women to enter a male-dominated field if we are not confident that organisations can keep them safe,' Professor Nash told the ABC.
AAD director Kim Ellis said he was deeply concerned by the findings, saying 'significant progress' had already been made on implementing more than 40 recommendations.
Women overwhelmingly described Antarctic research stations as 'blokey', with a permeating culture of widespread, low-level sexual harassment (Pictured, Casey station's living quarters at night)
