For years, managing personal hygiene, particularly menstruation and toileting, in the extreme Antarctic environment was often a solitary and unspoken challenge, especially for women and non-binary individuals.
For years, managing personal hygiene, particularly menstruation and toileting, in the extreme Antarctic environment was often a solitary and unspoken challenge, especially for women and non-binary individuals. “The traditionally male-dominated environment made it a taboo subject, leading individuals to manage it alone, often involving extra mental labour for women,” explains Alice Irvine, BAS Clothing Store Coordinator.
Recognising this critical gap, BAS established the Polar Hygiene Working Group about a year ago to address the practical hygiene challenges faced by the BAS workforce in Antarctica. Motivated by research and insights, the group set out to provide practical solutions and foster open conversation. Aurelia Reichardt, Station Leader for Rothera Research Station, highlights that while ‘fringe guidance existed, there was no centralised resource,’ and the aim was to ‘gather collective knowledge into a guidance document, aiming to reduce stigma and potential embarrassment when in the field.’
Read More: British Antarctic Survey
Aurelia Reichardt, Rothera Station Leader. (Photo Credit: BAS)
