Changes in the contributions of Women to Antarctic National Programmes

Antarctica is commonly known as the continent of extremes: the coldest, windiest, highest and driest place on Earth. Its environment is the hardest place on our planet to support life. These superlatives only describe characteristics of its natural environment. However, there is more to the peculiarities of this land: it is the only continent without native inhabitants a or permanent population; and the only place without a cultural background. Because of it, it is the only continent to record the first woman to ever set foot on it. For centuries men imagined the existence of the Terra Incognita. Later, they discovered the continent, explored its coasts, travelled inland and conquered it. The Southern Continent was a place for men only. Nevertheless, women accompanied men in these adventures; whether it was as a companion onboard whaling vessels or in the men‟s hearts and minds. In the mid 1950s, Antarctica was declared as a continent for peace and science purposes only. Governments and scientists turned their attention to this „living laboratory‟ for research. But it was not until the late 1960s that the first women were accepted as part of Antarctic Research Programmes