Masculinity, sexuality and life on board Her Majesty's Royal Australian ships

The Australian Defence Force has at different times given attention to issues of sexual and gender discrimination. More recently this focus has been stepped up, particularly within the Royal Australian Navy when allegations of sexual harassment were made by three women serving on board HMAS Swan in 1992. This paper examines the way Australian Navy men maintain an anti-feminine position through their day-to-day sexualised workplaces, this involves collective male processes such as watching pornographic movies, organising male-only nude parties, genital touching, and boasting about sexual exploits.