Examining Ecofeminism

By: Anna S.

Photo from: KRobinsonPhil

Earth is home to what seems like an endless amount of animal and plant species, complex ecosystems, mesmerizing habitats, and natural resources. Because it is often thought of as a limitless utopia for humans to use, nature is often taken advantage of: the animal and plant life is abused, the ecosystems are destroyed, the habitats are invaded, and the resources are used up. Humans subjugate nature in these extreme ways because they are not aware of (or mindful of) the consequences that wrecking the planet could have. In a similar way, women are seen as lesser than men and are often taken advantage of in ways that men cannot understand (because they do not have the experience of being a woman). Ecofeminism describes the interconnection of feminism (the fight for equal rights of the sexes) and environmentalism by highlighting that women are oppressed in ways that are parallel to the domination of nature. Feminism and environmentalism is an overlapping issue because both women and nature are often taken advantage of and exploited because of capitalist patriarchy and male dominance.

History

The term ecofeminism was first coined in 1974 by French writer Francoise d’Eaubonne in her book Le Féminisme ou la Mort and it was used to point out the powerful contribution women could make for the ecological revolution (Voices of Biodiversity). Ecofeminism was first introduced to the United States between the 1970’s and 1980’s, when professional and educated women met in a series of conferences to discuss the association of women with nature and how this relationship creates the idea that both are submissive (Britannica). Their goal was to fight for environmental causes, such as climate action and environmental equity, along with female advocacy. Both are actively abused by a patriarchal system: women work in male-dominated industries and humans are disrupting natural ecosystems.

Following the creation of ecofeminism, it quickly gained popularity worldwide. Petra Kelly, a German politician, was one of the founders of the German Green Party in 1979. She described the political party as a peaceful, democratic, ecological, anti-war coalition of parliamentary forces. Kelly’s political work focused greatly on the interconnection of peace and non-violence, ecology, feminism, human rights; in other words, Kelly strived to achieve ecofeminist goals in a conflict-free way. Her greatest achievements include serving in the German parliament, integrating environmental politics into the European political agenda, as well as founding an association for the support of childhood cancer research, which she created in honor of her sister (The Right Livelihood Foundation).

Kelly paved the way for other women to fight for environmental causes, such as Angela Merkel, who in 1994 was named the Federal Environmental Minister. In 1995 Merkel participated in the first UN Climate Conference in Berlin. She later became Chancellor and was frequently called the “Climate Chancellor” due to her efforts in combating climate change (Clean Energy Wire). Merkel also pushed for Germany to have an ambitious contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement. Because of women like Kelly and Merkel, the fight for ecological causes has been amplified in German politics over many decades. These efforts have made Germany especially environmentally friendly. In fact, Freiburg, Germany is the greenest city in Europe (The University of Kansas).

Ecological activism can also be seen in the US. For example, Professor Carolyn Merchant at UC Berkeley has made noteworthy strides in the ecofeminist movement. Her research specialization is in environmental history, which examines how human interaction with nature has shifted over time (The Daily Californian). As a prominent American philosopher, she published many works that can be classified as feminist utopian literature, including her most notable book The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution (1980), where she discusses humanity's shifting cultural perspective on nature from a sacred place to one worthy of exploitation. Throughout the book, she notes that sexism was used to justify this change in attitude. In fact, Merchant makes the ecofeminist argument that women and nature are directly linked, causing the poor treatment of women to justify the poor treatment of nature (and vice versa).

Merchant also does research about environmental history, which examines how the interaction between humans and nature has changed over time, as well as the effect humans have on ecology (The Daily Californian).

Photo from: UC Berkeley

Philosophy

Women are often associated with aspects of nature because of the feminine language that is used to describe the Earth. Common examples include the fertility of the Earth, the waxing and waning of the moon (which references the menstrual cycle), and the idea of “Mother Earth” (International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences). Inversely, this can be seen with words like “chick” or “vixen” that describe women. Ecofeminists argue that this connection between nature and women was created to oppress women and justify the domination of nature. The misogynistic language utilized, although seemingly harmless, actually reinforces the idea that these entities are passive. Calling women names associated with animals and wildlife interferes with their identity and worth as human beings. For example, “vixens'' or foxes are often hunted for their fur, so when this term is used to describe women, an association of vulnerability forms. Meanwhile, fertility and the menstrual cycle are heavily associated with birth, which is often associated with giving, devotion, and a motherly duty. Nature should not be associated with this idea of sacrifice because it tends to justify the exploitation of land. If women are being depicted as giving, nurturing, motherly, and fertile, nature will be seen as endlessly exploitable (Social Ecology).

Ecofeminism is also shaped in part by value hierarchical thinking (the establishment of certain groups above others) and oppositional dualisms (which maintain social binaries, such as men/women and humanity/nature). These hierarchical ideas concretely establish women and nature as less important in comparison to men and humanity, respectively.

Photo from: Catalyst

As debates regarding climate change and abortion rights continue to intensify, it's clear that today’s political issues revolve around women and the environment. Both women and nature are being viewed as submissive and unable to fend for themselves. Because the US government is mainly run by men, women’s health and human rights are not adequately amplified. In the environmental realm, ecosystems’ wellbeing needs to be considered more in discussions regarding anthropogenic climate change and pollution, which is where women (and all people) can step up and become better advocates for the environment by advocating for comprehensive climate litigation.

Photo from: Women's Media Center

Gender Inequity

Women are also linked to the environment through gender inequity. Globally, women only make up 12.8% of agricultural holders, despite making up 51% of the population (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations). Women also have less access to funding and credit to buy the necessary materials they need to take care of their land, such as fertilizer, tools, and seeds. As a result, female farmers’ lack of resources decreases their yields, which lowers their chance of surviving natural disasters, overall causing women to be more vulnerable to climatic changes than men.

Photo from: Population Pyramid

When women are not provided with quality education, higher populations are inevitable, since women do not know proper sex protection and have less career ambitions than educated women. Education needs to be further prioritized, especially in lower/least developed countries. In countries where men are valued more than women, young girls end up dropping out of school to engage in child labor, which places them on the path to become mothers at a very young age (United Nations). An increased birth rate can also have a negative environmental impact on the planet because it would in turn cause increase natural resource use. In order to propel ecofeminism forward, a higher investment in girls’ education is necessary.

Photo from: Our World In Data

Disadvantage

Ecofeminism highlights an important relationship that exists between the domination of women and Earth. It argues how in some ways, women are oppressed because of their association with nature and vice versa. That being said, it is essential to point out the flaws of ecofeminism.

Women have an implicated connection to nature that men do not possess. Women’s natural processes, such as menstruation and childbirth, connect to the Earth in several instances , but in some ecofeminist writings, men are incapable of achieving this same level of naturalness through their own life processes (Encyclopedia). This can be problematic because ecofeminists are strengthening the hierarchical idea that women are connected to nature, which justifies the subjugation of both. If these relationships with nature “cannot be achieved by men”, this only strengthens the connection women have with nature, which further justifies their passiveness.

Ecofeminism tends to oversimplify oppression (Encyclopedia). It suggests that sexism is experienced the same way by women of all walks of life, such as LGBTQ+ women or BIPOC women, which is not true. It is more harmful to assume that all people experience social issues the same way, considering that minorities undergo racial injustice that cannot be oversimplified or sugar coated. Additionally, oppositional dualisms fail to include the involvement of gender nonconforming individuals in ecofeminism; oppositional dualisms tend to be binaries, not spectrums.

Ecofeminism brings up the common factor between women and nature: the trope of passiveness placed upon both of them. Females and the environment both deserve respect and not seen as passive, but assertive. They can no longer be abused, as ecofeminism emphasizes, just because of stereotypes and the greed of patriarchal systems. These constructs were designed to oppress, so once this subjugation is combatted, women will be elected to government, female farmers will get the support they need, nature will be advocated for in every political discussion, and wildlife will be preserved rather than exploited. Changes like this can quite literally transform the world: female farmers could increase their yields and feed the hungry, and climate action could save the planet. Some may disagree with ecofeminism because of its generalizations, but it can be seen as beneficial because of its united fight for the respect of all underrepresented forces. Ecofeminism needs to become more inclusive by representing the experiences of all women and non-binary people to truly become a movement that supports everyone who is patriarchally oppressed.

Discussion Questions:

• Do you believe that ecofeminism can benefit both the feminist movement and the environmental movement?

• What are some connections that you have seen (in literature, society, etc) that project the idea that women and nature are intertwined/passive?

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