'Going all the way to Antarctica...' Female member sexually harassed at Australian Antarctic base

Revealed Through Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Investigation Report
Sexual Advances, Sexual Remarks, and Homophobia Culture Exposed

Female personnel at an Australian Antarctic base have reportedly experienced serious sexual harassment and assault. The photo is not related to specific expressions in the article. Image source=Pixabay

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] It has been revealed that female members at the Australian Antarctic research station suffered serious sexual harassment from their male colleagues, causing shock.

On the 1st (local time), CNN reported this fact citing an investigation report from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). According to the report written by Associate Professor Meredith Nash of the University of Tasmania, female members were subjected to unwanted sexual advances or inappropriate sexual remarks from male members, and were also exposed to pornography.

The report also stated that "the proportion of women in the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) is low (especially during the winter season)," and "because of this, some female members described the Antarctic station culture as 'barbaric' and treating people like objects." Some members reported that there is a homophobic culture at the station.

Female members also faced difficulties due to menstruation every month.

They said, "We have to make great efforts so that it is not noticeable that we are menstruating," and "we have to go through additional psychological and physical labor such as changing sanitary pads without privacy or proper hygiene measures."

After the report was released, Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water of Australia, expressed shock in an interview with ABC Australia, saying, "I was so shocked reading the report that I couldn't compose myself." In a statement released on the 29th of last month, Minister Plibersek raised her voice, saying, "Sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior must never happen in any workplace." She also stated that the responsible department is currently working on overall improvements to the station culture, including forming an 'Equity and Inclusion Taskforce' as suggested by the report.

Sexual harassment in Antarctica is not only an issue for Australia.

Just a month ago, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) released a report stating that "sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual assault are occurring in the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP)." Also, in 2017, two women from Boston University in the U.S. revealed that they were sexually harassed by their supervising professor during an Antarctic expedition for academic research.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.