Only recently have women begun to participate in polar expeditions. In 1986 a woman became the first to reach the North Pole. In 1993 she became the leader of the first all-woman team to reach the South Pole. Several studies have been conducted on all-woman groups engaging in high altitude mountain climbing. Studies of group dynamics of such groups shows that they become the most cohesive when the group has to engage in the most arduous tasks.
Group conflict tends to occur later when the demands are less.
Personality traits include high achievement, well-being, low stress reactivity. Focus on task-related activities was primary with relatively little emotional sharing or statements of social support. Perceived fairness of daily assignments positively related to ratings of group cohesiveness. In all-male Antarctic expedition groups intellectualization, denial, and repression are common methods of dealing with stress, as is social withdrawal with increasing fatigue over the course of an expedition. Withdrawal is used as a method of preserving one's resources.