When Antarctica stopped being only for men
Toxic ideas about heroism blocked women’s access to science
Last year, a team of 76 women scientists from around the world participated in the largest-ever all-female expedition to Antarctica. The Homeward Bound expedition included several British scientists and coincided with an anniversary for British women in Antarctica: it was 30 years since women had first worked at a British Antarctic Survey (BAS) field station. By that time, British men had been conducting science on the continent for more than 80 years.