by MAT 0 Comment 93 11 Jul Women in Maritime Survey The Maritime Archaeology Trust has received a grant from Historic England to better understand the issues related to equality of opportunity for women in maritime archaeology and to develop initiatives to actively improve the situation. This survey seeks to understand the experiences of women in maritime archaeology to identify barriers, challenges, and opportunities for positive change across the profession. Your responses are fully confidential and will not be seen by anyone outside the Women in Maritime Archaeology project team. All data received will only be used for research purposes, only anonymised data will be used in public reports. No information that could be used to identify any individual or organisation will be available to any other organisation. All data will be stored and processed in accordance with GDPR. Please complete the survey by 28th November 2025. This survey is voluntary, and your contribution is enormously valued. If you require the survey in any other format, have any queries or concerns please email women@maritimearchaeologytrust.otg . The survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Section 1. Background/Education (This section asks about your academic background and early exposure to maritime archaeology, to help us understand how pathways into the profession may differ across genders). Did you study archaeology/maritime archaeology at university? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If no, what did you study? Where did you study (name of university)? When did you study? -- Please select -- Before 1980 1980–89 1990–99 2000–09 2010–19 2020–present Prefer not to say What is the highest level of education completed by you? -- Please select -- School qualifications Foundation Degree or HND Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate (PhD/DPhil) Post-doctoral Other Prefer not to say The below are for those who answered yes to studying archaeology/maritime archaeology at university: Were there any obvious differences during your time at university in terms of gender in the field of maritime archaeology (for example in terms of who was able to join diving fieldwork, the roles within projects etc)? -- Please select -- Yes No Not applicable Prefer not to say If yes, please provide more information. Were there female role models/mentors that you were aware of during your studies, and did they occupy influential positions? -- Please select -- Yes, many in influential positions Yes, some in influential position Yes, but not in influential positions Yes, but I don’t know if they occupied influential positions or not No there were no women Prefer not to answer If yes, please provide more information on how they impacted you. During your time studying, were you taught to use gender neutral language (person or human instead of man for example)? -- Please select -- Yes No Not applicable Prefer not to say Do you think using gender neutral language is important? -- Please select -- Yes No Not applicable Prefer not to say Section 2. Professional Role (These questions focus on your current or past professional roles in maritime archaeology, including employment patterns, workplace culture, and career progression). What best describes your employment status? -- Please select -- Employed as maritime archaeologist Self-employed as maritime archaeologist Studying maritime archaeology Former maritime archaeologist Employed and studying Other – Please specify Prefer not to say If other, please specify. How long have you been working in maritime archaeology? -- Please select -- Less than one year 1-10 years 11-20 years 21-30 years 31+ years Prefer not to say What is your current position/job title? For those who selected Former maritime archaeologist, what was your position when you left? What is the principal area of your work? Student Trainee Postgraduate researcher Commercial Academic Museum Consultancy National Agency Local Government Heritage/funding agency Own business Prefer not to say Other What is your current working pattern? -- Please select -- Full time Part time FT term time only PT term time only Prefer not to say What type of contract do you have? -- Please select -- Permanent Fixed term Zero hours/Casual Consultancy/Freelance Prefer not to say Are you in a job share position? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If yes was your position advertised as open to job share, or was this negotiated by you? What are the main types of tasks you are involved with? (Rank from most to least) Returning to work after parental leave Desk-based research Diving fieldwork Intertidal/Coastal fieldwork Terrestrial fieldwork Marine geophysics Terrestrial geophysics Geotechnical work Heritage management Education/training Public engagement/Outreach Museum work Fundraising Conservation Administrative support Policy development Other - Please specify If Other, please specify. Do you think that your biological sex or gender-related physical challenges (e.g periods, menopause) have affected your opportunities for progression? -- Please select -- Yes No I don’t know Prefer not to say Please comment on your experience. Does your company have a formal policy that promotes gender equality? -- Please select -- Yes No I don’t know Other - Please specify Please provide more information. Did you negotiate your salary during the hiring process for your current (or most recent) maritime archaeology role? -- Please select -- Yes, and I was successful in increasing the initial offer Yes, but the salary did not change No, I did not feel comfortable negotiating No, I did not feel it was appropriate in the context No, I didn’t think negotiation was an option No, for another reason (please specify) Prefer not to say If other reason, please specify.? For those currently working in maritime archaeology. What is the approximate gender balance of those working in your organisation or maritime archaeology section/team of your organisation? -- Please select -- 0-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% Please tell us about initiatives being delivered in your organisation to attract/retain women in the profession (WIP). Networking or mentoring schemes for women Training to improve diversity and to support WIP Flexible working packages Initiatives for entry into leadership roles Diversity focus at recruitment Equal/diverse interview panels Celebrating WIP case studies Support for those with children/returning to work Equipment suitable and fitting for WIP Removal of gendered language in professional documents Transparent pay system Policies supporting diversity Equality as the norm Acknowledgement of lack of diversity and the need for change None Do you feel there are female role models in your workplace/department? -- Please select -- Yes Yes, but the salary did not change No, there are no women Prefer not to say If relevant, why did you stop working in maritime archaeology? -- Please select -- Financial reasons Couldn't find work or steady enough work Discrimination Unacceptable work/professional environment Incompatible with family commitments No longer liked the work Retired Lack of career progression Prefer not to say Other - Please specify Reason for stopping work: 2.1 Work areas and opportunities for visibility/ influence (This section explores how visible and influential women are in professional practice — such as project leadership, decision-making, publishing, and conference opportunities). For projects and research what level of responsibility/team role do you most frequently deliver? -- Please select -- Lead Supervisor Staffing Do you have input into the direction or design of research projects? -- Please select -- Always Often Sometimes Never Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. Do you influence which projects your organisation undertakes? -- Please select -- Always Often Sometimes Never Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. Do you feel the areas of importance or most potential for maritime archaeology are given prominence or developed? Please provide your thoughts on this. Are you provided opportunities to publish work? -- Please select -- Always Often Sometimes Never Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. Are you provided funded opportunities to publish outside the requirements of your work? -- Please select -- Always Often Sometimes Never Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. Are you provided with funded opportunities to present work at conferences? -- Please select -- Always Often Sometimes Never Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. 2.2 Caring Responsibilities and Work-Life Balance (These questions focus on the impact of caregiving, family responsibilities, and workplace flexibility on your career in maritime archaeology) Do you have caring responsibilities? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If you became a parent while working in maritime archaeology, do you feel there was an adequate maternity/paternity policy in place? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say Did you experience any of the following regarding maternity/parental leave? -- Please select -- I was unaware of my rights/policies I did not access the available policies Missed promotions/opportunities that I would otherwise have been considered for Redundancy or significant change in role Lack of flexible working options after returning to work Pressure to return to work before I was ready Pressure to work all the way up to my child’s arrival My organisations has been supportive up to/during and post the arrival of my child None of the above Other - Please specify If other, please specify. If having caring responsibilities has caused significant changes in your role, please explain how. Have you experienced work/life balance issues in your role (such as expectation to travel, conference attendance, long working hours, requiring specialist equipment)? Are these challenges systemic or linked to perceptions of gender (such as working mothers being seen as less dedicated; perhaps being criticised for taking time off to care for sick children/school holidays/other caring responsibilities)? Do you think this situation is more commonly faced by women than men? -- Please select -- More commonly women Both women and men equally More commonly men Prefer not to answer Section 3. Avocational Roles (This section is for those involved in voluntary or unpaid work, such as mentoring, fieldwork, or governance roles. It explores how unpaid contributions shape the sector). If you do not volunteer or have never volunteered, you may skip this section. Do you undertake voluntary or unpaid work in the maritime archaeology sector? -- Please select -- Yes No How long have you been volunteering in maritime archaeology? -- Please select -- Less than one year 1-5 years 6-10 years 11-20 years 21-30 years 31+ years What are the main types of tasks you are involved with? (Rank from most to least) Desk-based research Diving fieldwork Intertidal/Coastal fieldwork Terrestrial fieldwork Marine geophysics Terrestrial geophysics Geotechnical work Heritage management Education/training Public engagement/outreach Museum work Fundraising Conservation Administrative support Policy development Other - Please specify If other, please specify. What is the approximate gender split on the main projects you work on? -- Please select -- 0-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% If you don’t currently volunteer have you in the past, and what did you do? Why do/did you volunteer? You can select multiple items by holding your CTRL key. To gain experience To access fieldwork To contribute to a cause Due to lack of paid roles As part of a community Other - Please specify If other, please specify. Do you do other paid or unpaid work beyond maritime archaeology, such as a second job, or volunteer roles not linked to the field? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say Not applicable Please provide more information. Section 4. Fieldwork, Diving and Practical Roles. (This section is split into general fieldwork experiences, diving-specific experiences, and then other practical work (including marine and ship based roles), if sections are not relevant, please skip). 4.1 General Fieldwork Experiences Have you experienced any barriers to participating in practical/fieldwork activities? Have you experienced any physical or physiological challenges related to your gender while participating in practical/fieldwork activities (e.g., menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, nursing, or other) that have affected your participation or comfort? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If you feel comfortable, please describe how this affected your participation in fieldwork/practical activities, and whether any support or accommodations were (or were not) provided. Have you ever had to turn down a role due to safety or cultural concerns as a woman? -- Please select -- Yes No If no, please explain. 4.2 Diving-specific experiences Are you a diver? If you are not a diver, skip to questions on other fieldwork. -- Please select -- Yes No What level of dive qualifications do you have? -- Please select -- HSE SCUBA HSE SSDE CMAS 3* CMAS 2* CMAS 1* Other If other, please specify. Did you organisation support any of your dive training (funded, part funded, allowed time off for training, etc)? How regularly do you dive with the dive team (involved in all dive projects)? -- Please select -- More than half About half Less than half None despite being qualified If relevant please also provide more information about how this has changed, for example has this changed as your role/responsibilities have changed. What is the average gender balance of the dive team? -- Please select -- Less than 20% female 20-40% female 40-60% female 60-80% female 80-100% female What roles do you have as a diver? -- Please select -- Diver (standby) Diver (working) Dive Supervisor Safety Officer Other - Please specify If other, please specify. Do you make decisions about the diving plan, recording approach or operations? What other related roles are you trained for (operate vessels, maintenance of equipment, first aid, other)? Are you provided with dive kit/PPE that is specifically designed for women? -- Please select -- I had to purchase my own kit My kit is ill-fitting My kit limits comfort/safety I adapted men's kit I reported kit issues My organisation provided tailored kit Other - Please specify If other, please specify. Are you provided with adequate amenities for women when diving? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If no, can you please explain more? Do you feel you are offered the same opportunities for diving as male counterparts? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If no please provide more information. If the same opportunities are offered, are you able to take them? Have body image concerns ever made you hesitant about diving medicals? -- Please select -- Yes No Not applicable Prefer not to say Please provide more information. Do you also volunteer, or have done in the past, as a diver on archaeological projects? -- Please select -- Yes No If yes, please provide more information. Did/ does your experience as a volunteer differ from your experience at work? 4.3 Other practical work (marine operations, lab work etc) What sort of fieldwork/practical work are you involved in? You can select multiple items by holding your CTRL key. Intertidal Coastal Offshore Lab work Other - Please specify If other, please please specify. What is the average gender balance of the team? -- Please select -- Less than 20% female 20-40% female 40-60% female 60-80% female 80-100% female During fieldwork/marine operations are you provided with PPE that is specifically designed for women? -- Please select -- I had to purchase my own kit My kit is ill-fitting My kit limits comfort/safety I adapted men's kit I reported kit issues My organisation provided tailored kit Other - Please specify If other, please please specify. Do you feel you are offered the same opportunities for fieldwork/marine operations as male counterparts? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer nto to say If no please explain more. If the same opportunities are offered, are you able to take them? Section 5. Inclusion, Bias and Safety (Here we explore workplace culture, including experiences of harassment, bias, and discrimination, as well as suggestions for improving equity, safety, and inclusion). What changes would most improve your experience as a woman in maritime archaeology? Are there areas of maritime archaeology that already work well for you as a woman? If yes, what already works well? Have you experienced harassment? -- Please select -- Yes No Have you ever witnessed or experienced sexual harassment? You can select multiple items by holding your CTRL key. Yes whilst studying maritime archaeology Yes whilst working in maritime archaeology Yes whilst volunteering in maritime archaeology If you can provide information on this in a secure and safe space that isn’t triggering for you, the team would be happy to speak to you further. Do you feel confident in reporting any such incidents to your employer or educational institute, and that they would address the issues? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If applicable, were actions taken if harassment was reported? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say Have you ever experienced or witnessed gender-based discrimination, including inappropriate language, verbal harassment, or bullying? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If you feel comfortable, can you please provide more information? Have you ever been impacted by conscious or unconscious bias (such as expectations of undertaking admin or minutes, being responsible for tasks perceived as ‘office housework’, not being offered certain roles - particularly diving or fieldwork related)? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say If you feel comfortable, can you please provide more information?. How do you feel about the gender balance in maritime archaeolog? If applicable, what do you think could be done to improve the balance?. What topics do you feel are impacting women in maritime archaeology? (Drag and drop) Returning to work after parental leave Returning to work after a career break Balancing caring responsibilities with work Harassment in the workplace Equal pay for equal work Managing imposter syndrome Recognition of skills Support and encouragement to put yourself forward How to manage menopause in the work place Attaining the work life balance that is right for me Other - Please specify If other, please please specify. In your opinion, what are the three most important areas to deliver improved support for women in maritime archaeology? -- Please select -- More senior women in leading roles Equality in pay, greater flexibility in working hours More opportunities for the advancement of women Greater training for decision-makers on unconscious bia Mentoring schemes for women Greater training for all staff on EDI Hybrid working, leaders’ objectives to include EDI Job sharing More safeguarding I don’t know Section 6. Demographics (These questions help us understand the diversity of respondents. All answers are optional and will be kept strictly confidential and anonymised). Name (optional) Age Range -- Please select -- Under 25 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65+ Prefer not to say Ethnic Group -- Please select -- White-British White-Irish White-Other Mixed/multiple ethnic groups Asian/Asian British Black/Black British Other ethnic group Prefer not to say Relationship status -- Please select -- Single never married Separated Divorced Widowed Married or domestic partnership Prefer not to say Gender identity -- Please select -- Woman Man Non-binary Prefer to self-describe Prefer not to say Do you identify as having a disability? -- Please select -- Yes No Prefer not to say Where are you based? Have you worked in maritime archaeology in another country (either participating in projects or based in another country)? If yes, how did your experience differ? Share
