Nisha (In alliance there is power)

Written by Nisha Bhakat

Working in the wildlife, ecology, and conservation field can feel like being part of a close-knit community. On the other hand, there can be long months in remote field sites, often far from friends and family, sometimes even without network connectivity. In more ways than one, many workspaces in this field are not your standard office spaces. Places of work and residence merge into one during fieldwork, colleagues become roommates. Such settings can pave the way for beautiful friendships and collaborations. Or, they can become claustrophobic nightmares with no escape or support. 

Over the last few years, this field has had to reckon with the reality of the chronic and systemic prevalence of sexual harassment. There has been a tide of survivors’ testimonies on social media, showing just how widespread and serious the issue is. In the larger community, there was a sense of frustration seeing very little action taken over the years. It became clear there was a lack of clarity and awareness: institutions of their obligations, and individuals of their rights and duties. 

Recognizing this, a group of people who have been working in ecology and conservation for years, came together to take a proactive stance against sexual harassment in our workplaces. Thus, the CEASE (Conservationists and Ecologists Against Sexual Harassment) collective was born. People in the CEASE collective represent the diverse nature of institutions active in the field: independent researchers, NGOs, public and private universities, and research institutes. In a joint effort, CEASE members have put together resources to address the gaps in awareness, and also educate individuals on necessary actions towards building safer workplaces for all. The resources feature a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy template, a very useful reference for organizations with limited resources. The legal information in our resources is reviewed by a lawyer. While the legal guidelines are in accordance with Indian law and policy, other resources such as Field Safety Guidelines, recognizing warning signs, learning to be an ally, and many more would be applicable irrespective of nationality. The collective is active in the ongoing effort to cease sexual harassment in wildlife, ecology, and conservation. The resource collective, in that regard, is a necessary first step. 

I still remember the day the website was launched, during the SCCS-Bangalore conference in October 2023. Seeing experienced and senior professionals take a vocal, strict stance against sexual harassment was a powerful experience. Being a queer woman early in her career, I am aware of how challenging it may be to even make your way past the initial ‘Is it even safe to go there? You know, because you are…’ And sadly, there are individuals who feel it is easier to just leave people from vulnerable groups out of workspaces than to work towards eliminating the risk factors. In such situations, some people have to strive to be indispensable, while others just have to be capable of accessing the same work opportunities. This only perpetuates power imbalances and other toxic workplace cultures that continue cycles of harassment. In that regard, the CEASE collective is a breath of fresh air. 

I share these resources hoping it will help individuals working in this field, wherever they are in the world. While I hope the reader never has to experience such a traumatic experience, I hope everyone can learn something about how to be a good ally. Because, in alliance, there is power. 

For more of Nisha, check out @nickel.salt on Instagram. If you would like to help improve the field safety of your workplace, please check out the resources provided in this blog.