Are Scientists Safe in Academic Fieldwork?

Many scientists experience sexual harassment and assault in field sites from peers and superiors, but do not get adequate support from sexual harassment policies. More actions are needed to protect scientists working in the field.

Field research is a common and valuable part of scientists’ work, especially for scientists in training. However, lack of structures to ensure safety in fieldwork can leave them vulnerable to sexual harassment or assault. This can severely harm scientists’ psychological well-being as well as reduce job satisfaction and productivity, and lead to increased job turnover.

In 2014, Clancy and colleagues conducted two survey studies with 666 scientists engaged in field work. The studies were about the scientists’ general work environment in the field. Surveys included questions about the gender ratio, the principal investigators’ gender, about the presence or absence of sexual harassment policies and codes of conduct, about observed and direct experience with sexual harassment or assault and the outcomes of these situations.

The majority (72.4%) of respondents reported directly observing or being told about other researchers and/or colleagues making inappropriate or sexual remarks at a field site, with women reporting this more frequently than men. The majority (64%) reported experiencing sexual harassment themselves, and 20% reported experiencing sexual assault at a field site. Women were more likely to have experienced both sexual harassment and assault compared to men. These experiences included alienating behaviour, unwanted sexual advances, and sexual assault. Fewer than half of the respondents reported being aware of any policies or codes of conduct regarding sexual harassment and assault at their field sites. Of those who experienced harassment or assault, only few reported the incident and only 19% reported that they were satisfied with the outcome of reporting.

These findings indicate a significant systemic problem in the scientific community, and that better mechanisms are needed to prevent sexual harassment and assault on field sites. These actions include initiatives to raise the awareness of policies, codes of conduct and reporting mechanisms, better responses and outcomes for reported cases, and the active participation of senior researchers and supervisors in creating an inclusive workplace.

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Study Details

Sample size(s): Wave 1=124. Wave 2 =542.

Participants: Biological anthropologists, scientists

Design: Quantitative, survey

Reference:

Clancy, K. B. H., Nelson, R. G., Rutherford, J. N., Hinde, K. (2014). Survey of Academic Field Experiences (SAFE) : Trainees Report of Harassment and Assault. PLOS ONE, 9(7), e102172.

Summarized by WinSights team members: Emily Ana Butler, Bianca Dreyer, Catherine Palm & Adrianna Tassone