Sexual Harassment on UNOLS research vessels: Policy Creation, Implementation, and Experience

Abstract:

Ocean research vessels are a specialized field environment with diverse personnel, infrastructure, division of labor, and missions. They are also a remote, inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, temporary field setting for scientists and a long-term workplace for technicians and crew. Over the years there have been efforts to create and implement policies that prevent and address sexual harassment in field-based STEM research settings. Despite these efforts, recent research has shown that sexual harassment remains prevalent in field situations. We currently do not fully understand the relationship between the policy intention of preventing and ending sexual harassment, policy implementation in field locations such as research vessels, and the experience of those working in these locations.

This study is comprised of a content analysis of research vessel focused sexual harassment policies, interviews with policy makers and managers involved in University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) operator institutions, and a questionnaire of research vessel participants. This study is the first step in improving our understanding of the relationship between policy intention, implementation, and experience in ship-related fieldwork.