I know I’d like to think that, in a perfect world, everyone respected everyone else and sexual harassment wasn’t EVEN A THING.
But now it emerges that you can’t even escape it in Antarctica.
Apparently Australians sent to work there have complained about unwelcome requests for sex, taunting, displays of offensive pornography and homophobia.
Just as horrifying – an external review of the culture at Antarctic research stations, commissioned by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), found some women felt they had to hide the fact they had their periods because they feared men may judge them as incompetent.
The review was conducted by Professor Meredith Nash, an associate dean at the Australian National University, who 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".
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says the issues raised in the report need to be addressed.
Hopefully that won’t take until hell freezes over. Women need to be safe to work in all environments and locations.