"I don't encourage women to come here!" Sexual harassment, troubled the US Antarctic Scientific Examination

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A recent report pointed out that there is a problem of sexual harassment at Maco Maco's station at Antarctica Science and Entrance. Picture source: getty images

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently issued a report saying that the country's Antarctic science base has long -term sexual harassment. The report also pointed out that people working in Antarctica not believe that employers will seriously treat harassment complaints, protect victims or punish perpetrators, and some groups are not enough to understand this issue.

According to "Science", the report quoted a investigation in 2021. Generally speaking, 72%of female investigators said that sexual harassment is a problem facing work in Antarctica. The survey covers people who have worked in Antarctica in the past three years, including scientists and chefs, door guards and other logistical personnel and military personnel.

This report is based on interviews, group symposiums, and anonymous investigations. Although it does not try to quantify the degree of sexual behavior, it provides some naked facts. "Every woman I know there has had a harassment experience." A respondent said. Another interviewee said: "Based on my conscience, I can't encourage more women to come here."

The report pointed out that Mcmerodo was a "epicenter". This is a huge scientific research station, and more than 1,000 people live in the summer peak period. In addition, there are sexual harassment problems in the US Antarctic science base, including Amondon Scott Antarctica Station and Palmerkko.

NSF stated in a statement issued by the report that the report was "seriously concerned."

"This report is even more shocking than I imagined." Helen Fricker, a professor at the San Diego Institute of San Diego, who studied the Antarctic Ice Covers, heard some "very terrible things" from colleagues working in Antarctica, such as Geologist Jane Willenbring was bullied and sexually harassed by her graduate mentor while working on a remote area. Fricker believes that these situations are definitely much widespread than imagined. "Some of these people experienced a crime."

The report also proposed concerns about law enforcement. The report pointed out that many of the members of the interviewed bases were deeply betrayed because these criminals were not held accountable and did not see any efforts in preventing or properly dealing with sexual harassment.

In 2013, the NSF formulated a polar codes, which clearly prohibited "physical or speech abuse of anyone, including but not limited to any form of harassment, tracking, bullying or insulting." The consequences of violations include expel the Antarctica. However, whether the decision to punish the harassment person is left to the federal institutions of educational institutions, companies, and regulating Antarctic staff.

The report quoted an investigator: "I have seen many such examples: After the human resources department received the report, people with different behaviors seemed to have not been affected."

A scientist asked: "If the harassment case you encounter is not from your own institution, what should you do? NSF needs to develop a mechanism to solve these situations." Some people pointed out that survey and law enforcement work is given to "1.4 1.4 The educational institution office outside the thousand miles is unrealistic.

NSF hopes to change the status quo. Roberta Marinelli, the head of the NSF Poor Project Office, said: "There are several things we must work hard at the same time: we want to have a prevention -oriented environment. We hope that people with negative experiences can report it safely. We hope that the report is effective. If necessary, we want to take disciplinary actions, and we hope that everyone on ice will be treated fairly. "

"China Science News" (2022-09-05 No. 2 Edition International)

Edit | Zhao Lu

Capture | Zhihai

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